Sara Freeze

New Twitter Account

2010-01-10T12:54:00.002-05:00

After following some of my favorite authors' Twitter accounts, I've decided to experiment with Twitter. Please join me at: http://twitter.com/SaraFreeze

I will be posting relevant and up-to-date news on the romance industry, as well as useful writing links. In addition, I'm trying out Twitter's new list function and have already posted lists of publishers/agents, romance authors, and general writing help.

Wild Rose Press: Paranormal Month

2009-10-10T14:18:00.004-05:00

October is Paranormal Month at The Wild Rose Press, and all paranormal titles are on sale now. Both of my stories, "The Earl's Enchantment" and "A Seaside Enchantment," are 10% off this month. While you're visiting the website, you may also want to sign up for Rose Clippings, the Wild Rose Press Newsletter, which includes all the latest news and events for the publisher.

Happy reading!

MyRomanceStory.com: New Paperback Line

2009-03-09T11:17:00.003-05:00

Given my interest in new directions for the romance novel, I was intrigued by a recent press release by MyRomanceStory.com. The press release notes that the company is making the transition from being an online publisher to a print publisher as well with a new line of graphic romance paperbacks. As we've seen over the past few years, audiences are certainly intrigued by comic books and their big screen adaptations, and I'm interested to see how much this trend of graphic romance paperbacks will catch on with romance readers.

An Ebook Revolution?

2009-02-20T12:00:00.003-05:00

With all the bad news circulating in the publishing industry these days (think HarperCollins and declining book sales), I was happy to see the article "E-book Revolution Favors the Agile" on the Christian Science Monitor website. As a longtime reader, I admit my preference for the traditional book, I am also intrigued by the potential of ebooks. Can the ebook revolution revitalize the publishing industry? I think the interviewees in the article are leaning toward 'yes.' Interestingly, when I raised this idea in a literature class I'm teaching, my students expressed their preference for traditional books. However, I wonder if 10 years from now, when I enter a classroom I'll see rows of students with digital readers rather than textbooks.

Of course, I'm biased in favor of the digital revolution since I'm published with an online publisher, the Wild Rose Press. Given the recent financial turmoil in the publishing world, I'm hopeful that the digital revolution will push readers and writers in a new direction.

Romance Novels & New Covers

2009-02-06T11:19:00.002-05:00

Last year, when I was standing in line at Walgreens, I was happy to see Julia Quinn's new novel on the book stand but was surprised at the new design of the cover, which features a different type of artwork for the models. I visited Quinn's website to find out more, and she had posted information about one of the models who graced the cover of The Lost Duke of Wyndham. The face of the model had looked familiar, so it all clicked into place when I found she's an actress on a soap opera. Although I don't watch this particular show, the actress has appeared on the cover of other magazines, and I wonder if this is a new trend in the romance cover industry. Having actresses as the models could stimulate some interest in the genre. I know I wouldn't mind seeing my favorite actors, such as the stars of Supernatural, appearing as models. :)

If you're curious about romance covers, the Times-Reporter has an article out this week on how covers for romance novels are arranged, and you can find out about the process of locating models and arranging the backgrounds.

The Shadowlands

2009-01-16T14:09:00.003-05:00

Anyone who reads my stories knows how much I am fascinated by ghosts and by the supernatural, which is the name of one of my favorite shows. I was excited to discover The Shadowlands website, which includes hundreds of informative stories and articles for those who share my fascination. The Haunted Places index is especially valuable, since it lists haunted locations around the world. While researching the realm of the supernatural for my latest story, "Charlotte's Ghost," I enjoyed reading about various ghostly sightings around the world. I highly recommend this website to others who are interested in hauntings and ghost hunting.

Jane Austen Festival: Louisville, KY

2009-01-12T14:24:00.003-05:00

In the latest email from the Jane Austen Society of North America, I received word that Greater Louisville Region will be holding its second annual Jane Austen festival. I've copied and pasted the press release below. The Regency Style Show sounds especially interesting. Since it will be held during the summer, families will be able to use the summer break to take their kids for what sounds like a very fun and educational event.

2nd Annual Jane Austen Festival to take place July 18 & 19, 2009 at Historic Locust Grove, Louisville, KY

The 2nd Annual Jane Austen Festival will take place July 18 & 19 at Historic Locust Grove, a circa 1790 National Historic Landmark in Louisville, KY.

This event is hosted by the Greater Louisville Region of the Jane Austen Society of North America. The festival will include Afternoon Tea; a Regency Emporium with lovely fabric, shawls, patterns, bonnets, jewelry and everything needed to create a Regency outfit; as well as antiquarian books; a Regency Style Show and you can have your shadow cut! Plans for a Grand Ball are being made.

Guest speaker will be Margaret Sullivan, author of THE JANE AUSTEN HANDBOOK and editrix of Austenblog. Her talk is entitled "Five Things a Janeite Heroine (or Hero) Needs to Know."

Historic Locust Grove (www.locustgrove.org) is located six miles from downtown Louisville and sits on 55 parklike acres. There are many stone and log buildings on the property that will temporarily house the shoemaker (live demonstration), the Mantua-Maker & Daughter (seamstresses with Regency dresses for sale) and other delights.

Admission to the festival is $6 which includes a tour of the circa 1790 Georgian House. Afternoon Tea (four courses) is $25 (includes admission). Reservation required for tea.

For more information, contact Bonny Wise, Regional Coordinator at 812-923-7808, visit www.jasnalouisville.com or email wises4@insightbb.com. For anyone traveling to the area, advice gladly given about hotels, B&B's, etc.

Happy Birthday, Jane Austen!

2008-12-16T13:24:00.006-05:00

On this day in 1775, Jane Austen was born at the Steventon rectory. Her family included her parents, George and Cassandra Austen, six brothers (James, George, Edward, Henry, Francis, and Charles), and one sister (Cassandra). Although she lived a relatively quiet life, her six completed novels are considered classics, despite Austen's initial difficulties in achieving publication.

Portrait of Jane Austen by James Edward Austen-Leigh

Jane Austen Society of North America

2008-12-15T14:40:00.002-05:00

Since Jane Austen's birthday is this month (December 16, 1775 to be exact), I've decided to hold a celebration and profile her works and life. If you're interested in learning more about Austen and perhaps in meeting with others who hold the same interest, you may want to check out the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). With 4000 members and a number of regional groups, JASNA is the largest organization devoted to Austen and her works. If you click on their calendar of events, you'll find a comprehensive list of meetings and other events such as teas and country dance lessons. And, if you're still searching for a special gift for the Austen fan in your life, they offer a link entitled Merchandise, which will direct you to regional groups that sell Austen-related gifts. Teachers looking for additional material to add to discussions of Austen's novels will definitely want to explore the list of Austen-related links. Finally writers may want to check out the Jane Austen font, which Pia Frauss created and which JASNA advertises on their site.

The Austen family's coat of arms

Regency Research: A Regency Repository

2008-11-13T13:20:00.002-05:00

When I first began researching the Regency era, I quickly discovered A Regency Repository, a comprehensive featuring information on the era's military, politics, fashion, and education. Although the fashion page doesn't feature images, it does offer a comprehensive list of sources for interested researchers, including a set of links. In fact, the entire website offers over 400 links to browse, and of special value is The Regency Romances page, which provides fans of the genre with links to information about their favorite authors. If you're new to the era, this website makes for a good starting point to learn basic information and interesting facts about Jane Austen's time.

Nancy Mayer: Regency Researcher

2008-11-08T11:32:00.002-05:00

I just discovered this website today and am impressed by the wealth of material that it contains. Nancy Mayer: Regency Researcher offers a comprehensive array of information on the Regency era, with subjects spanning dance, education, law, marriage, medicine, Parliament & politics, period publications, peers & peerage, Regency fashion, and titles & names. Nancy Mayer has been a long-time contributor to the Writing Regency listserv, and she is considered an authority on the era. I was lucky enough to take an online class on the Regency era with Nancy a few years ago and can attest to her knowledgeable handling of a variety of topics concerning this era. If you can't find the material that you need, Nancy offers an "Ask Nancy" function that allows users to email Nancy with their questions. For the aspiring romance authors out there, I recommend checking out the "Marriage" section, which discusses issues such as common errors in novels and marital law. In addition, since many Regency romances incorporate scenes at balls, Nancy's page on "Dance" is informative and interesting, with images of popular dances and a bibliography at the bottom of the page.

Researching the Regency Era

2008-11-04T11:52:00.003-05:00

To inaugurate a month of profiling the best Regency websites, I've decided to start with a popular site that has even earned kudos from the History Channel: Cathy Decker's Regency Fashion Page. If you're fascinated by Jane Austen's novels and have always wondered about the details of Regency dress, which Austen omits in her descriptions of her heroes and heroines, the Regency fashion page will provide insight into all the varieties of male and female fashion. By the time you finish browsing the numerous pages and images, you'll know the difference between spencers and pelisses and turbans and bandeaux, as well as have a working knowledge of the more important historical figures of the era.

In addition, Decker's work on Princess Charlotte's Wedding Page offers a unique glimpse at one of the lesser known figures of the Regency era. Since all of Austen's novels end with weddings, but leave out any descriptions of wedding finery, Decker's page allows the reader to have a better understanding of how this momentous occasion would really appear. Finally, the lovers of Regency literature will appreciate Decker's Portraits of Women Writers, which profiles lesser known authors such as Mary Brunton and Susan Ferrier alongside more popular authors such as Hannah More and Elizabeth Inchbald.

Wrap-Up: Moonlight & Magnolias Conference

2008-11-04T11:46:00.002-05:00

In conclusion, I would highly recommend the GRW Conference to fellow writers. When you're constantly sitting at the keyboard, immersed in writing stories, it's easy to get caught up in the solitary writer's life. Attending a conference such as the Moonlight & Magnolias Conference reminds you that you're not alone in the journey toward publication. If you missed the conference, the Georgia Romance Writers have been kind enough to post the entire conference booklet online. Also, they're already gearing up for the 2009 conference, which will feature Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, and Tami Cowden, the author of one of my favorite writing books, Heroes and Heroine: Sixteen Master Archetypes.

New Themes: November

2008-10-30T15:34:00.002-05:00

In the interest of keeping things fresh here on the blog, I've decided to start having different themes each month. Because of my research and writing interests, I've decided to devote the month of November to profiling different websites focused on the Regency era. When I first began writing Regency romances, I had a difficult time narrowing my search results when I used Google. Now, every time I find a good website, whether from a friend's tip or Yahoo group suggestion, I bookmark it. In November, I'll be celebrating the best of these websites and providing links and profiles.

Moonlight & Magnolias Conference: Leanne Shawler

2008-10-30T15:23:00.003-05:00

One of the most interesting sessions I attended was held by Leanne Shawler and entitled "Let's Get Physical." In this particular workshop, Shawler emphasized the importance of incorporating body language into our writing. Like other instructors, Shawler noted the importance of showing and not telling, and her best tip was to "replace adverbs with descriptive action tags."

Toward the end of the session, Shawler discussed and listed some helpful websites for writers who are interested in learning more about body language and how it can add emotional intensity to you writing. I've included two of the best websites below. If you're interested in finding out more about Shawler's work, please visit her website at http://www.leanneshawler.com.

Highlighted Websites:
Police Body Language: http://www.hodrw.com/cop2.htm
Sexual Tension & Intimacy: http://groups.msn.com/RomanceWritingTips/sexualtension1.msnw

Moonlight & Magnolias Conference: Teresa Medeiros

2008-10-21T17:09:00.006-05:00

At the Moonlight & Magnolias Conference, I was excited to hear Teresa Medeiros speak at the luncheon on Saturday. She reminded all the writers in attendance that we participate in a business and should remember that when we approach our careers. For the unpublished writers, she urged them to take pleasure in creating and to remember that without a contract and its attendant responsibility, you can be fearless in what you write. For the published folks, she gave upbeat advice on dealing with critics; I especially liked her quotation from one of VH-1's One Hit wonders: "That's one more hit than you had." Most importantly, Medeiros emphasized to write for yourself, and not for your audience. I had never heard Medeiros speak before, and since she's one of my favorite authors, I'm happy I finally had the chance.

For more photos of Teresa Medeiros and her fellow authors at the conference, please visit her blog here.

Moonlight & Magnolias Conference

2008-10-16T11:39:00.002-05:00

Recently, I attended the Moonlight & Magnolias Conference and was impressed by the lineup of authors and workshops. This is the second time I've attended the conference, and I highly recommend it to my fellow writers. Also, readers have an opportunity to meet their favorite authors in person, and I enjoyed hearing the speeches of authors such as Theresa Medeiros and Stephanie Bond. In fact, for writers who are looking for inspiration and/or motivation, I highly recommend visiting Bond's Writers' Pages, which feature articles available at Amazon Shorts (I especially like "Mind Your Own Writing Business, article series 2," which covers how to create a business plan for your writing career). Over the next few weeks, I'll post highlights from the conference.

Just Married!

2008-08-18T16:17:00.004-05:00

Some exciting news- my wedding was this past Friday, August 15th. It was a small ceremony in my family's home, and my new husband and I are thrilled to be married. He's been the inspiration for my romance stories, and it's a treat to finally have our happily ever after. I have a lot to celebrate these days, and I anticipate this jubilance will be reflected in my stories and work.

Book Recommendation: The Story of Ernestine

2008-07-22T09:37:00.003-05:00

Written in 1765, Marie de Riccoboni's The Story of Ernestine is one of the earliest romantic narratives. At 80 pages, it's a quick read and a charming tale of the love story of the orphaned Ernestine and the wealthy and handsome marquis de Clemengis. Since most of the historical romances I read are set in England, it was a nice departure to read the French setting. You can read the entire first half of the story at Google Books.

Website Tip

2008-07-22T09:29:00.002-05:00

Now that I'm taking classes on website development and search engine optimization (how to improve your search rankings on popular search sites such as Google), I'll be sharing simple tricks and tips from time to time. Many authors are now choosing to develop their own websites or enlisting web development firms to create websites for them; either way, it's useful to know some of these ideas.
Today, the tip is how to check which websites are linking to the domain names that you own. All you have to do is to go to a search engine such as AltaVista and type in +link:your domain name. So, if I wanted to check who's linking to my Sara Freeze website, I'd type into the AltaVista box: +link:sarafreeze.com.

Romance Short Story Contest

2008-07-16T17:23:00.002-05:00

I received the following press release in my email today and thought it might be of interest to other writers.

MyRomanceStory.com Announces Romance Short Story Contest

Winner will Receive Cash & Prizes

Gathersburg, MD – July 16, 2008 – Arrow Publications, publishers of the online romance novel website MyRomanceStory.com, today announced the "Forever After" Romance Short Story Contest. The contest invites readers to continue one of the site's romance novellas to win cash and prizes.

"You know, something as simple as 'the end' should not get in the way of a good romance," said Patricia White, publisher. "So we thought, why not let our readers continue their favorite novella and let us know what happens during the 'they lived happily forever' after part?"

Contestants are invited to pick any of the MyRomanceStory.com's online romance novellas and write about what happens next in the character's lives. Did they encounter bumps along their road to romance? Did they truly spend the rest of their lives happily together or did the passion fizzle? Were the characters living secret lives we didn't know about in the original novella? Who knows? "We want our readers to tell us," said White.

"This is a wonderful way for someone who would like to become a romance novel writer to get their foot in the door and receive some valuable feedback," said White. "We'll be judging the stories on creativity, faithfulness to the original story and characters, strength and appeal of the romantic elements, and the overall writing."

Submissions are due August 31, 2008, and must be between 2,000-2,500 words. The story line should focus on the challenges the couple face after the novella ends, and what circumstances occur to fortify their love for each other. The writer of the winning story will receive $250 in cash, a $25 gift package, a two-year subscription to MyRomanceStory.com, and a written critique by one of the sites' editors on another of the writer's short stories or a sample chapter from a novel.

Cash prizes will also be awarded for the 2nd through 4th place winners and 10 honorable mentions. In addition, visitors to the site can read all qualified submissions and vote for their favorites. The top vote-getter will receive the Reader’s Pick prize valued at $25.

To enter visit www.MyRomanceStory.com/foreverAfter/. All qualifying submissions will be posted on the site.

About MyRomanceStory.com:

MyRomanceStory.com, the premier online romance graphic novella site, is published by Arrow Publications, LLC, a 24-year old Potomac, MD corporation. In addition to graphic novellas, MyRomanceStory.com features lifestyle columns, book reviews, online shopping, a reader blog and quarterly newsletters. The site is enjoyed by millions of readers worldwide.

Article on The Wild Rose Press

2008-07-15T19:57:00.003-05:00

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the romance-writing website Roses Colored Glasses, I encourage you to check it out. They have newsletters, writing advice, and workshops, all of which are very inspiring for the new and established writer. This month, their newsletter features Rhonda Penders from the Wild Rose Press. I especially like Penders' advice to actively seek support from other writers. The writing process can be lonely sometimes, and I've found it helpful to network and socialize as much as possible with the writing community.

New Posts

2008-06-25T10:51:00.002-05:00

I apologize for the lapse in making new posts. Some good news on the personal front has kept me busy for the past few months: I'm engaged! It's an exciting time, especially since I'm still working on two joint educational ventures: an MS in Information Studies (emphasis: Web Design and Instructional Technolgoy) and a Ph.D. in English (emphasis: Regency Women Writers). I'm in the process of creating a new website to showcase my research on the Regency era and on its women writers, in particular. So, I'll be sharing a lot of different news over the next few months. At this point, I'm half-way done with a new story, which will be historical-paranormal, though no time-travel this time.

Call for People: The International Association for the Study of Popular Romance (IASPR)

2008-06-25T10:47:00.004-05:00

Exciting news: the scholars behind the educational and entertaining blog Teach Me Tonight are looking for volunteers to help out on with the creation of a new society and new journal. I've copied and pasted the information below:

Teach Me Tonight: IASPR and JRPS
This is a Call For People, rather than a Call For Papers. It is time for an academic society for the study of popular romance fiction, with all the rights and privileges appertaining thereunto, like a journal and conferences. So we have decided to start one! "We" being myself, Eric Selinger, and a few other people who are already interested in being involved.

The society will be called The International Association for the Study of Popular Romance (IASPR) and the journal will be an online, open-source journal called The Journal of Popular Romance Studies (JPRS).

So, we're looking for people who might be interested in helping us build these institutions. Do you want to get in on the ground floor? Do you already have experience in the hierarchy of an academic organization or with an academic journal that you'd love to share with us, even if you don't want to be involved in the day-to-day aspects of running either? Please let us know! For minimum involvement, for example, we're going to need people to act as peer reviewers for the journal, so please let us know your specific area of interest in romance novels (paranormals? inspirationals? Regencies? heroes? romances published in the 1950s?). For maximum involvement, we're going to need journal editors and IASPR board members. We especially need the input of people who might have done any of this before, so you can at least tell us what to avoid! :)

For now, the contact person for both the society and the journal is myself, Sarah Frantz. Comment here with a way to contact you and I'll email you post-haste. (Or you can contact me at my Gmail account, which is my full first and last names as one word.)

Let me know what you're interested in doing (A highly-valued affinity for numbers? You could be Treasurer! Technical Know-how? We need Web Gurus! Organization? We need a Membership Chairperson!). Or if you don't know specifically what you might be able to contribute, but are really interested in being a part of the process, let us know that, too! We promise, we'll find a use for you.

Romance Writing Contest

2008-04-08T10:24:00.003-05:00

Unfortunately, I've been sick for over a week now; hence the delay in writing new posts. In the meantime, however, I thought some folks may be interested in this new writing contest sponsored by MyRomanceStory.com.

“Forever After”
Romance Short Story Contest

Don’t let something as simple as “The End” get in the way of a good romance.

MyRomanceStory.com is holding a romance fiction short story writing contest from March 24, 2008 to August 31, 2008. Winners will be announced in September 2008.

Select one of MyRomanceStory.com’s romance novellas and write about what happens when happily Forever After begins. Each of our stories has its passionate ups and frustrating downs. So select the hero and heroine from your favorite novella and tell us how their love deepens and their relationship is cemented in the Forever After of their story.

How it works: Submit your follow-up to one of our novellas as a 2,000 to 2,500 word short story using our online submission form. (Submissions are limited to no more than two per entrant.) The novella can be chosen from one of our free stories, member’s stories or one of the stories from our Buy E-Books section. You can find our novellas online at MyRomanceStory.com, many can be read for free, so no purchase is necessary. Your submission should focus on the challenges the couple face after our novella ends and what circumstances occur to fortify their love for each other.

Our editors will judge all qualifying submissions on:

creativity
faithfulness to the original story and characters
strength and appeal of romantic elements
overall writing.

The contest is open to all U.S. citizens who are 18 years of age or older by the end of the day on August 30, 2008. Submissions will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EDT on August 31, 2008. Prizes will be awarded during the week of September 30, 2008.

Prizes

1st Place:

$250 in cash
a gift package valued at $25
a two-year subscription to MyRomanceStory.com
plus a written critique by one of our editors on one of your other short stories or a sample chapter from a novel (no more than 5,000 words).

2nd Place:

$200 in cash
a one-year subscription to MyRomanceStory.com
a MyRomanceStory.com tote bag

3rd Place:

$150 in cash
a one-year subscription to MyRomanceStory.com
a MyRomanceStory.com tote bag

4th Place:

$100 in cash
a one-year subscription to MyRomanceStory.com
a MyRomanceStory.com tote bag

10 Honorable Mentions (each will receive):

$50 in cash
a one-year subscription to MyRomanceStory.com
a MyRomanceStory.com tote bag

All qualifying submissions will be posted on MyRomanceStory.com, so readers can vote for their favorite romance short story. The top vote getter will receive the Readers’ Favorite Prize. (Only one vote per person a day). Submissions can be awarded one of the above prizes and the Reader’s Favorite.

Reader’s Favorite:

a gift package valued at $25

See MyRomanceStory.com for
a complete list of Terms of the Contest

Southern Lights Conference- Recap 1

2008-03-30T14:05:00.004-05:00

The First Coast Romance Writers Southern Lights Conference officially ended today, and it was a well-organized, rewarding event for writers at all stages of their careers. I just arrived home a few hours ago and am in the process of sorting through all my books and materials. Over the next week, I plan to post information and news I learned during the course of the conference. Listening to Suzanne Brockmann and attending the various workshops was definitely a treat, and I learned a lot over the two days. Also, visiting the book signing was a highlight of the weekend, given the wide variety of books and authors.

For now, I will post the major points from the Q & A Session with Suzanne Brockmann. Brockmann started with some insights into her drafting process, stating that she likes to set down 8 pages outlines before sitting down to write. However, she emphasized that "writing is so organic- it has to work for you." She also reminded authors that something has to happen in each scene to propel the story. She cautioned writers that we are currently in a 'white knuckle' period when agents/editors are more hesitant to take risks on unusual plot lines and/or characters. Brockmann then noted that authors should write what they want, and their passion will reflect on the pages. In addition, she stated that when she was first starting out, she would take note of her favorite authors and observe the types of books they first wrote and how long it took for them to achieve success. Finally, she said her husband's career as a lawyer inspired her to label of daily word count as "billable hours," which is a wonderful idea since writers don't have a specific product to show until the story is written and published.

The Southern Lights Conference

2008-03-27T10:29:00.003-05:00

I'm a little late posting this information, but I'll be attending the First Coast Romance Writers Southern Lights Writers Conference this weekend. Suzanne Brockmann is serving as the keynote speaker, and a variety of agents and editors will be taking appointments throughout the conference. I'm particularly looking forward to the workshops that are being offered. Alyssa Day and Deidre Knight's workshop on World Building for the Paranormal Romance sounds interesting and instructive, Simone Elkeles and Shannon Greenland's Transitioning to Writing for Young Adults. I look forward to reporting back on what I learn!

Time Travel Romance at Cata Network Today!

2008-03-27T10:24:00.004-05:00

The semester has gotten very hectic lately (that's what I get to trying to do 2 degrees at the same time!); hence, the delay in posting. However, I am excited about an event going on at the Cata Network today. The theme is all about time travel romance, which is one of my favorite genres. I hope to stop by sometime today and hope to 'chat' with other readers and writers.

Theme Day: Time Travel Romance March 27, 2008 -- 9 - 9pm EST - drop in

Link to the Readers Loop: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CataNetwork-Readers/

In Memory of Dawn Thompson

2008-02-10T12:19:00.001-05:00

I was greatly saddened to hear of Dawn Thompson's death this morning. Deborah Macgillivray, Dawn's friend, announced the news on the Night Owl Romance listserv, saying that " Dawn Thompson is dead. She died Friday around 2pm. She went peacefully, life finally granting her that single blessing when it had taken so much more from her." Deborah ended her message with the words "The world lost one of the best and brightest with her passing." I had just discovered Dawn's works during the fall (I got mixed up and started with the second book of her trilogy) and enjoyed her books so much that I gave some of her work to my mom and sister. I can't believe we won't be receiving any more new works from Dawn; she's a wonderful author, and her legacy lives on in her work.

Interview with Historical Romance Club

2008-02-08T12:17:00.001-05:00

In January, I was pleased to be interviewed by Sandra Marlow at the Historical Romance Club. I answered questions about my work and about what inspires me; since it's my first official interview, I'm excited to see it live on the website.

Dr. Phil's Personality Test

2008-02-07T21:22:00.001-05:00

This personality test has been circulating around the Internet, and even if it's not the most in-depth test, it does seem fairly reliable. Supposedly, the test originated with Dr. Phil when he visited the Oprah show, though I haven't been able to verify that fact. At any rate, the test is copied and pasted below, so enjoy!
I received a 34.

1. When do you feel your best?
a) in the morning
B) during the afternoon and early evening
C) late at night

2. You usually walk...
a) fairly fast, with long steps
B) fairly fast, with little steps
C) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
D) less fast, head down
E) very slowly

3. When talking to people you. .
a) stand with your arms folded
B) have your hands clasped
C) have one or both your hands on your hips
D) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
E) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with.
a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
B) your legs crossed
C) your legs stretched out or straight
D) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with....
a) big appreciated laugh
B) a laugh, but not a loud one
C) a quiet chuckle
D) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you...
a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
B) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
C) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted. .
a) welcome the break
B) feel extremely irritated
C) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?
a) Red or orange
B) black
C) yellow or light blue
D) green
E) dark blue or purple
F) white
G) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep you are...
a) stretched out on your back
B) stretched out face down on your stomach
C) on your side, slightly curled
D) with your head on one arm
E) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are...
a) falling
B) fighting or struggling
C) searching for something or somebody
D) flying or floating
E) you usually have dreamless sleep
F) your dreams are always pleasant

POINTS:

1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c ) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 ; (e) 6 (f) 1
Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS : Others see you as someone they should "handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS : Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS : Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS : Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature..

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you' re boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

Romance in Publishers Weekly

2008-02-07T12:12:00.000-05:00

I was thrilled to once again see the romance genre featured in Publishers Weekly. In the article "Publishers Stand By Mass Market Paperback," Jim Milliot says that mass market paperbacks, especially romances, are still popular with publishers, despite new formats. And, in good news for historical romance writers, "There was widespread agreement that, among the various mass market categories, romance continues to enjoy solid sales gains, helped by what deGuzman called a “resurgence” in historical romance." Perhaps unsurprisingly, paranormal romances are also still big sellers. Milliot discusses premium paperbacks at length, which was useful since I'm not familiar with the pricing and reasoning for this new format.

P.S. If you have a little extra money floating around, the London Book Fair will be held in Earls Court, London from April14-16th.

Courtesy and the Romance Genre

2008-02-06T11:20:00.000-05:00

Recently, I was browsing through a popular romance website, Ecataromance.com, and was interested in finding out the winners of the 2007 Best Book of the Year. I was disturbed to read the introductory letter from the webmistress, which stated that it was supposed to be a fun contest, and, hoping to make the process more efficient and organized, she changed some of the categories. Unfortunately, and this is the disturbing part, some authors/nominators sent in "impatient ranting emails" about the changes, and further, "I’ve received emails the likes of which I never thought I’d get. Obviously our contest has made many people very unhappy and that was NEVER our intention." Many of the folks who run romance-friendly websites do it for love of the genre and are not getting for their work, and I imagine reading nasty emails must have some effect on how they perceive the genre and its writers. I also realize this is part of a larger problem that Lynne Truss discusses in her book, Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reason to Stay Home and Bolt the Door. Rudeness is just part of our everyday lives, but need it be a part of our profession?

Fun Website: Longmire does Romance Novels

2008-02-04T13:39:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I've never run across this website before. Basically, the guy who runs the website takes romance novel covers and then has fun with them. If you're easily offended regarding the genre, then avoid it; otherwise, it's a fun site to visit. Also, if you're technologically savvy, you can send in your own artwork, and he'll post it on the website. The image I posted below is particularly funny to me since I write historical romances.

Outlander Graphic Novel

2008-02-03T18:58:00.000-05:00

For those of us interested in the intersections between the romance genre and the graphic novel, the news that Diana Gabaldon will be publishing an original Outlander graphic novel is tremendously exciting. According to her website, " The new story, starring Gabaldon’s beloved characters Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser, opens with Murtagh, Jamie’s godfather, awaiting the return of his godson to Scotland, and the fulfillment of a vow made years before. The graphic novel will be approximately 192 pages and will publish sometime in 2009." If you want to learn more about this topic, the RT Booklovers Convention will host a workshop entitled Fiction in All Its Forms: Exploring Opportunities in the Manga, Anime, Graphic Novel and Comic Book Markets, which will be hosted by Anne Elizabeth.

P.S. On the plagiarism front, the romance community is directly attacking the issue at the RT Booklovers Convention, Bertrice Small, Jennifer Blake, and Roberta Gellis will be presenting a workshop entitled How to Use Historical Facts Without Crossing the Line Into Plagiarism.

New Writing Contest: The Wild Rose Press

2008-01-31T20:56:00.000-05:00

Got Wolf?
Black Rose Writing Contest
If you've got a hot hero/heroine that also happens to turn furry at
least once a month, then Black Rose is looking for your story.
We are interested in werewolf stories with tight, well-written
storylines and plots. If the hero is female make sure the male is
equally impressive. All stories must have at least one HOT
consummated love scene and, of course, the traditional story
requirements still stand.
Please take a moment to look at our submission requirements
(www.thewildrosepress.com and click on the tab for "Submissions" )
before sending in your stories. Stories that do not follow
traditional guidelines will be disqualified.
Submissions are now open!
Please place "Got Wolf? Contest Entry" in your subject line along
with the traditional subject line matter, also found on the
Submissions Guide.
Contest deadline: August 30, 2008
Winners to be announced: October 31, 2008
Contest details:
4 shorts -- 15-25,000 word maximum and
2 full shorts -- 25-45,000 word maximum will be chosen from the
entries.
All six winners will be included in a Black Rose anthology and will
also receive a special Black Rose contest T-shirt. In addition, one
winner will be chosen from those six to receive an author's survival
basket full of goodies.
Anthology Publication (estimated release) date June 2009
Judges: Ami Russell, Callie Lynn Wolfe, Jade Alexander, Amanda
Barnett, Joan Archer, and Rene Stephens

A Treat for my Fellow Jane Austen Fans

2008-01-30T13:07:00.001-05:00

I thought it would be fun to share one of my favorite Pride & Prejudice passages, accompanied by a romantic Regency image. Enjoy!

"Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances. The happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do. Had Elizabeth been able to encounter his eye, she might have seen how well the expression of heartfelt delight, diffused over his face, became him; but, though she could not look, she could listen, and he told her of feelings, which, in proving of what importance she was to him, made his affection every moment more valuable."
Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice (1813)

Plagiarism and Authors

2008-01-16T11:32:00.000-05:00

Paul Tolme, one of the authors whose work was lifted by Cassie Edwards, wrote an interesting and thought-provoking column on the topic in Newsweek Online. You can find Tolme's article here; his remarks about plagiarism at the end of the article are particularly astute, and I plan to share the article with my Composition students to open up a discussion about the fair use of research. As Tolme's remarks, "Plagiarism victimizes writers. It betrays the trust of readers. It tarnishes the craft of writing." As an English instructor, I've always been attuned to how I incorporate other authors in my research on the nineteenth century, which has helped when I approach research for my fiction writing. It's just plain courtesy, thanking the people who have helped you along the way to complete your research by acknowledging their contributions.

The Complete Jane Austen on PBS

2008-01-15T20:06:00.001-05:00

Rediscover the timeless novels of Jane Austen in celebration of Masterpiece's Complete Jane Austen film festival—airing on PBS this winter.

Viewing Schedule:

January 13—Persuasion
January 20—Northanger Abbey
January 27—Mansfield Park
February 10—Pride & Prejudice (Part I)
February 17—Pride & Prejudice (Part II)
February 24—Pride & Prejudice (Part III)
March 23—Emma
March 30—Sense & Sensibility (Part I)
April 6—Sense & Sensibility (Part II)

For more information, visit pbs.org
The Masterpiece Theatre® broadcast of Pride and Prejudice is the first in the U.S. other than on A&E Television Networks

Red Roses for Authors: Nomination

2008-01-12T17:26:00.000-05:00

I just found out that my short story, "The Earl's Enchantment," was nominated for the Red Roses for Authors Christmas award. As the blog owner stated, "I just want to remind visitors to this blog that our reviewers read well over two hundred books since we began in March 2007. It was hard to choose a shortlist from those authors." Although my story didn't win the award, I was thrilled to find out that my story was one of just five nominations in the Short/Novella category. Thank you to Red Roses for Authors, and congratulations to Sloane Taylor and Desiree Holt for winning!

New Reviews: A Seaside Enchantment

2008-01-12T17:05:00.000-05:00

I was happy to find out that a few more reviews for my latest release, A Seaside Enchantment, have been posted on the web.

Tammy, from Fallen Angel Reviews, had the following to say: "A Seaside Enchantment by Sara Freeze is an unique tale that mixes a little bit of romance, a pinch of the paranormal and a dash of historical into a very flavorful story that flows along beautifully."

At Sensual Reads & Reviews, L.E. Kelly said "A Seaside Enchantment is a touching story that plays upon the hope of all true romantics—‘somewhere, in some time, is the One Love for me, and nothing will keep us apart when I find that person.’"

Rose, the Romance at Heart Magazine reviewer, stated " Sara Freeze has concocted a delightful tale of lust, danger, magic, and matchmaking."

RWA Responds to Plagiarism Case

2008-01-10T21:10:00.000-05:00

As many of you have no doubt heard by now, the popular romance author, Cassie Edwards, is under scrutiny for charges of plagiarism. The Smart Bitches Who Read Trashy Novels website was the first to raise the issue, and other sites have quickly jumped on board with their own take on the subject. If you visit the Dear Author website, you'll see a side-by-side comparison of the texts in question, so you can judge for yourself.

The following alert was sent out to all RWA members, and it addresses the situation:

RWA Alert: RWA Responds to Plagiarism Accusations

There are heated discussions on various loops and blogs regarding the accusations of plagiarism against a published romance author. Some questions have also been raised regarding RWA’s stand on the matter. To be clear, RWA does not condone plagiarism or any type of copyright infringement. (Please see RWA’s Code of Ethics http://www.rwanational.org/cs/code_of_ethics).

RWA takes all accusations of plagiarism very seriously. RWA also stands behind the idea that guilt or innocence should be determined after a thorough review of all documents and sources, not based on discussions or articles found on the internet or in other news media.

Within RWA, there is a process in place to examine claims of plagiarism made against RWA members. That process includes a set of procedures that affords the individual due process. Any member found to be in violation of RWA’s Code of Ethics is subject to disciplinary action including loss of membership.

According to information RWA has, Cassie Edwards was once a member of RWA and is listed on RWA’s Honor Roll; however, it appears she allowed her membership to lapse four or more years ago. If guilt is admitted or established, RWA will take appropriate steps with regard to the Honor Roll listing.

Members have raised questions about a news article that includes a quote by RWA’s president. The president was asked to give an expert opinion on the issue based solely upon information available in internet blogs. The president does not have enough first-hand information to adequately assess the allegations.

Romance Writers of America

Publisher's Weekly: 15 Trends to Watch in 2008

2008-01-10T11:55:00.001-05:00

Mike Shatzkin makes some interesting predictions for the publishing industry in his article "15 Trends to Watch in 2008." I think his first prediction, that ebooks will see increased sales, is absolutely correct. Many users are comfortable with using the Internet for shopping, doing research, and making friends, so it's logical they will demand more opportunities for reading online. Check out the list to see all his predictions; it'll be interesting to see how many of them come true.

Preditors & Editors Readers Poll

2008-01-09T13:19:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! I'm happy to announce that my short story, The Earl's Enchantment, has been nominated in the romance short story category of the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. This annual poll has a number of categories, and you can vote until January 15th. Click on the image below to be taken to the poll website.

Silver Rose Award for Website Excellence

2007-12-07T19:15:00.000-05:00

I recently found out I'm a finalist in a website contest sponsored by the Sacramento Valley Rose chapter of the RWA. As you can imagine, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The results will be announced on the 15th. Although I don't expect to take any of the top honors, it's a thrill to be nominated, especially since I designed my website without any outside assistance. It was rough going at first, and it took over a year to get it just as I wanted it, but I believe all the effort was worthwhile.

A Seaside Enchantment: New Review

2007-12-07T18:44:00.000-05:00

Although it's been a couple of months since my time-travel short story, A Seaside Enchantment, was published, I recently received some wonderful reviews, which I will be showcasing here on my blog over the next few days. One of the best parts of being an author is receiving reviews; it's encouraging to know people are reading our work and responding to it.

The Long and the Short of It Romance Reviews gave my story a lovely review, which you can access here. Daisy, the reviewer, commented that "Snappy dialogue, intriguing characters, and the thrill of a modern man going back in time to champion a nineteenth-century lady really make the short story shine."

Romance Readers & Publishers Weekly

2007-11-19T14:15:00.000-05:00

I was pleasantly pleased to see the cover of Publishers Weekly for the week of November 19, 2007, features the romance genre. In an article entitled "Textually Promiscuous," Sarah J. Robbins discusses the genres and features quotations by readers, editors, bookstore owners, and romance scholars. I especially enjoyed the discussion on the blending of historical and paranormal elements in romances and Rose's quotation on writing was spot on: "“The editors acquired these authors on the quality of the writing and weren't concerned about the genre,” says Rose. “Which just goes to show that good writing wins out.”
You can check out the article here.

All About Romance: Top 100 Romances

2007-11-18T15:07:00.000-05:00

The popular romance website, All About Romance, recently published their list of Top 100 Romances, which can be found here. Of course, critics will have a field day, and devoted romance readers will notice that popular authors, such as Jo Beverly, are missing from the list, though classics such as Bronte's Jane Eyre and Austen's Pride & Prejudice are represented. Still, it's useful for considering the novels that we have on our keeper's shelf. What makes a novel a keeper? After reading through the list, I plan to inspect my own shelf and consider what would appear on my list. And, I'd be curious to hear what other readers think about the novels/authors that do appear on the list. I've only read 25 of the books that are listed, and at my own estimate I've read about 400-500 romances in my life. To get you started, I've listed the top 10 books on the AAR list:

1	Lord of Scoundrels Loretta Chase European Historical 1995
2	Dreaming of You Lisa Kleypas European Historical 1994
3	Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen Classic Fiction 1813
4	Outlander Diana Gabaldon Time Travel 1991
5	Flowers From The Storm Laura Kinsale European Historical 1992
6	Slightly Dangerous Mary Balogh European Historical 2004
7	Devil In Winter Lisa Kleypas European Historical 2006
8	Bet Me Jennifer Crusie Contemporary 2004
9	Welcome to Temptation Jennifer Crusie Contemporary 2000
10	The Viscount Who Loved Me Julia Quinn European Historical 2000

Victoria Magazine is Back!

2007-11-12T20:43:00.000-05:00

When I was a teenager, I eagerly awaited each new issue of Victoria Magazine. Every issue featured beautiful locales, wonderful recipes, and lovely layouts. As you can imagine, I was deeply disappointed when they stopped publishing the magazine, but I recently received the very first issue of the new Victoria Magazine. The magazine features home decor, recipes, collectibles, and more. If you visit the website, you'll find free recipes and tips on decorating your home.

If you're a writer, you may be interested in contributing an article, especially if you have an interest in antiques and history. Writers' guidelines can be found here.

Celtic Woman

2007-10-17T18:45:00.000-05:00

For my 30th birthday this year, my sister and I attended the Celtic Woman concert, which was incredible. The music was inspiring and beautiful, and I've found it makes an ideal companion to both reading and writing romances. This was a new group to me, so I just had to share because I was very impressed by the show, the singers, and the music. For more information on Celtic Woman, you can visit their website.

I haven't been as consistent in my online presence this month, but I have a good excuse! When I attended the Moonlight & Magnolias conference, I met with an editor who subsequently requested the full manuscript for my historical paranormal novel. So, I've been busy polishing the full manuscript with my critique team and hope to be finished by the end of October. Once that's done, I look forward to rejoining the communities on MySpace, shelfari, and bebo. I miss everyone!

Now Available: A Seaside Enchantment

2007-09-27T10:57:00.000-05:00

My new release, "A Seaside Enchantment," is a time-travel romance featuring the Regency era. It's a short story published by The Wild Rose Press and is rated "sweet,"- i.e. no explicit love scenes.

BLURB:
"Of all the seaside cottages in all the villages in all the world, she had to haunt the one I'm renting."

After being seriously wounded in the line of duty, Justin has retreated from the world by renting an isolated cottage along the English coastline. The next thing he knows, he's plunged into a time-travel adventure as he meets the trapped spirit of a lovely nineteenth century lady, Julia.

As Julia explains, she's been awaiting her champion. All he has to do to free her from her entrapment as a spirit is to perform a spell, travel 200 years into the past, find the villain who first worked the spell, and then vanquish the fellow. Easy, right? Justin suspects not, but he's prepared to take on the world, in whatever time period, to fight for his new love.

New Look: Sara Freeze Website

2007-09-25T09:22:00.000-05:00

Now that my new release, "A Seaside Enchantment," is coming out this week with The Wild Rose Press, I decided to play around with some of the design elements of the website. It's incredible how simply altering the colors and playing with the page header can dramatically alter the look of a website.

In particular, I had a lot of fun adding information and photos to "The Earl's Enchantment" page. If you click here, you'll find an excerpt, reviews, and my inspiration for writing the story. I've shared photos of Holworth and Hay-on-Wye, as well as a special section on who in particular inspired my concept of the earl. When I was cruising around the web checking out various author websites, I especially enjoyed Donna Grant's pages devoted to each of her heroes from her Knights of Legend series. Since I'm also a devoted romance reader, I appreciate when authors give a little extra information on their books; in my opinion, it adds to my enjoyment of the story.

Coming next week: Coverage of the Moonlight & Magnolias Conference

Be a Guest Blogger on the Cata Network

2007-09-21T18:36:00.000-05:00

Another writing opportunity: The Cata Network is looking for guest bloggers. Between now and October 15, they are especially looking for blogs on locations you've visited and/or places that have inspired a scene in your book or story. The guidelines are as follows:

How do I become a Guest Blogger?
- First, email Ally and let her know you’re interested. We don’t need a firm commitment, in fact you may only want to write one blog piece per year for us. And that’s great. We appreciate any and all guest blog pieces. We just need to know for scheduling purposes what might be coming down the pipeline.
- Second, register here on the site. It’s free and takes all of 30 seconds. You’ll be listed as a contributor and that means you can add your blog pieces yourself by clicking the Write tab in the administrative section of our site. Our site is like most blog software so if you’re familiar with one, you should have no trouble using ours. (If that’s too technical for ya, just email Ally with your guest blog piece and she’ll post it when she has a minute. )

How do I actually blog?
After registering (super easy) it’s a fairly simple and painless process to post a piece here at CataNetwork Readers’ Lounge. The info we need from you is a catchy headline and the actual blog piece you want to post. See, nothing difficult.
We’ve created a neat little page with a screenshot to show you the administrative side where you’ll be posting. It’s supposed to be Top Secret and stuff, be we can trust you, right? *g* Check that out here.

2007 Brava Novella Contest

2007-09-21T15:32:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the late notice- I just heard about the contest through an online discussion board.

It’s back…
The contest that launched several successful publishing careers and brought readers hours of joy is back! Are you ready?

The Rules:
1) The 5th annual Brava Novella Contest will begin accepting entries at midnight central time on August 1, 2007 and will cease accepting entries at midnight central time on September 30, 2007.

2) All entries must be made using the online entry form (which can be accessed by the link below.) No email or snail mail entries will be accepted.

3) Entries will be 750 words (computer count/actual word count) and entrant’s choice of any scene in the novella. Entries over 750 words will be disqualified.

4) This year, for the first time, the contest will have a theme. Entries must be written to the theme of: reunited lovers.

5) All entries will be judged by established Brava authors with the top twenty finalists being judged by Kensington Editorial Director Kate Duffy. As in previous years, there will also be voting by readers with the highest voted entry being named the “Readers’ Choice.”

6) Judging will be held during the month of October with winners announced by November 15, 2007.

7) One entry per person (multiple entries is cause for disqualification.) Open to unpublished authors and those published with houses other than Kensington.

The Reward:
If your 750 word entry is selected as one of the 20 finalists, your entry will be read by Kate Duffy. Take a look at the books in the sidebar and below to see how many previous Novella Contest entrants became Kensington authors because of having their entries read by Kate.
Got Questions?
Visit the message board’s Contest Forum and post them there. The contest will be run through the message board, so get accustomed to it now!

Stardust Press

2007-09-18T11:05:00.000-05:00

Unfortunate news from a fellow author this morning: Stardust Press is closing at the end of the month. If you visit the Moondancer Drake blog, you'll see the full story. She just recently posted a public letter from the publisher, which reads in part, "After much discussion and negotiation and evaluation, it is with regret that we announce StarDust Press is closing effective September 30, 2007. We are saddened that despite all our efforts, SDP is bleeding, and the investors have decided to cut their losses." One interesting comment, posted by Moondancer Drake at the bottom of the page, notes that epubs need to devote more attention to their marketing efforts. As she says, "I think now creative marketing techniques along with a good solid product is the best shot any of these epubs have to lasting past the start up gate."

If you work in the e-publishing industry as an author, editor, or publisher, I recommend checking out the Absolute Write Water Cooler forums. They offer tons of information for the newbie writing, and even more importantly, the members exchange information on the latest developments in the industry. If you want to check on a publisher before submitting your work, I advise visiting their Bewares and Background Check forum. Obviously, not all e-publishers are crooks, just as all New York publishers aren't legit, but it's always good to do your homework. For instance, when I first heard of The Wild Rose Press during the national RWA conference, I went online and searched for news. In addition, I contacted a few Wild Rose Press authors to hear their comments, and when I learned of nothing but positive responses and glowing reviews, I knew I'd found the right place.

The Duchess of Richmond's Ball

2007-09-17T13:17:00.000-05:00

The now famous ball took place on June 15, 1815 in Brussels. Readers famliar with Thackeray's Vanity Fair will remember that famous scene. It was during this ball that the Duke of Wellington learned that the French had crossed the border, and the ball was abruptly ended.

Lady de Ros recorded that "When the duke [of Wellington] arrived, rather late, at the ball, I was dancing, but at once went up to him to ask about the rumours. He said very gravely, "Yes, they are true; we are off to-morrow." This terrible news was circulated directly, and while some of the officers hurried away, others remained at the ball, and actually had not time to change their clothes, but fought in evening costume. "

Surprisingly few books have been published on the subject, and Miller clearly did extensive research on his topic. He includes descriptions of the Richmond family and clarifies the location of the ball, a topic that has long been debated. I highly recommend this book for any researcher of the Regency era.

Website Advice for Authors

2007-09-16T12:09:00.000-05:00

As I was cruising along in the cyberworld today, I landed on the brilliant article on website design for authors by the Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels site. The article is called Authors on the Web, and its offers a wealth of advice for authors who are in the process of building their websites. As the article's author notes, authors need to think long and hard about the "content and style of their websites." She also notes some authors with especially good websites, and I have to say Susan Holloway Scott's site was my favorite. My personal favorites are the websites of Elizabeth Hoyt, Rebecca Kohn, Janet Mullany, Cindy Miles, Kristina Cook, and Marly Mathews. Each of these authors clearly considered their audience and purpose and crafted their sites in a way that appeals to their readers. What are some of your favorite author websites?

Release Date for A Seaside Enchantment: September 26

2007-09-15T14:42:00.001-05:00

My editor emailed me today with the release date for "A Seaside Enchantment": September 26th. This is only my second published story, so I'm very excited about having another publication out. As the date approaches, I'll be posting excerpts and a blurb; for now, you can see the cover art for the story.

Also at the end of September, I'll be attending the Moonlight & Magnolias Conference, which is sponsored by the Georgia Romance Writers. The conference will feature special guest Sue Grimshaw, the national romance buyer for Borders Group Inc., and I look forward to hearing her speak about trends in the industry. Roland Haas will also be presenting a CIA workshop, which sounds intriguing, as well as the Maggie Award presentations. In October, therefore, I'll be postings details from the conference; I anticipate there will be much to share.

Teach Me Tonight: Musings on Romance from an Academic Perspective

2007-09-14T18:01:00.000-05:00

With romance scholars such as Pamela Regis, Sarah S.G. Frants, Sandra Schwab, An Goris, E.M. Selinger, and Laura Vivanco contributing entries, Teach Me Tonight: Musings on Romance from an Academic Perspective helps romance scholars by providing academic links, romance industry news, critiques, and conference/scholarship updates. Recently, I've been reading Regis's A Natural History of the Romance Novel and am finding it a valuable resource in understanding the evolution of the genre. So, if you're looking for a place to get started with your research or just want to learn more about the industry, you'll benefit from a glance at this website.

Romance Wiki

2007-09-13T08:49:00.000-05:00

If you're beginning your research on the romance genre, the Romance Wiki is a good place to start. The Wiki contains a number of resources for researchers of romance, and the dissertation abstract section offers all the latest research being done by up-and-coming scholars.

Of especial interest, at least to me, is the listing of academics who write romance novels. Something I've also wondered about is how so many academics came to write their own romance novels, especially since there is a stigma attached to romance in academia. In September 2007 issue of the Romance Writers Report, Karen Hawkins commented that "I started writing historical romance while working on my Ph.D. in political science in an effort to break up the monotony of reading scholarly, dry books." Eloisa James created a stir a couple of years came when she 'came out' out of the romance closet. In an interview with the New York Magazine, which you can read here, she states, "The main reason I kept [my romance-writing career] separate in the beginning had to do with the sense of shame that American culture deals out to romance, to readers of romance. "

Romancing the Blog

2007-09-12T21:27:00.001-05:00

Yes, I've been a bad blogger lately. Ever since I started my Ph.D. in August, I've been madly reading and researching new topics. In fact, I've recently decided to focus on the 19th century courtship novel and shows how it progresses to the modern romance novel. So, I'll be adding some new content having to do with that area of research, as well as with the Regency era.

To that end, I'll be profiling several websites/blogs that relate to the modern romance novel. First up: Romancing the Blog. From their mission statement: "The columnists on Romancing the Blog are readers, reviewers, aspiring authors, and bestsellers. Some are thoughtful, some humorous, some a bit “ranty,” and some are insightful. They have their own voices and a love of romance. Together, with your comments, they will map the landscape of today’s romance genre from every possible angle. From story conception to the moment a reader finishes the book, they’ll cover it all." They have many influential contributors, including some romance scholars, so it's definitely worth a look. Also, if you have a blog that relates to the romance genre, they'll add you to the list of author blogs. Happy browsing!

Regency Recollections- Captain Gronow

2007-08-24T13:52:00.001-05:00

Regency Recollections: Captain Gronow's Guide to Life in London and Paris is a very useful guide for fledgling Regency writers. The editor of the book, Christopher Summerville, has done a great service for fans of Gronow's work by collecting all his Regency-specific writings into one volume. Even if you're not a Regency researcher, Gronow is worth the read if only for his wonderfully gossipy remarks about London luminaries. Below, you'll see some of his wittiest remarks.

On Lord Byron: "Byron hated Palmerston but liked Peel and thought that the whole world ought to be constantly employed in admiring his poetry and himself. He never could write a poem or drmama without making himself its hero,a nd he was always the subject of his own conversation.

On Beau Brummell: "Unluckily, Brummell, soon after joining his regiment, was thrown from a horse at a grand review at Brighton, when he broke his classical Roman nose. This misfortune, however, did not affect the fame of the beau, and although his nasal organ has undergone a slight transformation, it was forgiven by his admirers, since the rest of his person remained intact."

Becoming Jane

2007-08-12T14:48:00.001-05:00

Austen scholars haven't been enthusiastic about Becoming Jane, a fictionalized tale of a possible love affair between Jane Austen and Tom LeFroy. Many film critics have also panned the movie, with Salon.com in the lead, declaring it a "misguided movie [that] imagines Jane Austen's life as a genteel, tasteful Harlequin romance."

The movie is based on Jon Spence's biography Becoming Jane Austen, which I highly recommend. I saw the movie this weekend, and this is my own take on the subject. As a devoted Janeite, I didn't have any high expectations regarding accuracy. What I did expect was a vivid portrayal of the Regency era, and the film certainly did not disappoint in that regard. If you want a detailed and accurate account of Jane Austen's life, I recommend either Spence's book or Carol Shields's Jane Austen. If you want to immerse yourself in a visual representation of the colorful Regency period, Becoming Jane will serve as a witty, well-acted time capsule.

Online Book Trailers

2007-07-18T22:19:00.000-05:00

As you can see from my previous post, I've been exploring the world of online book trailers. Lately, when I've been visiting the websites of my favorite authors, I've noticed that they've been featuring brief book trailers. The favored production company for these trailers is Circle of Seven Productions. However, given that the costs range from $250 to over $10,000, I decided to go with a less costly (read: free) version, which you can view below. If you're in the process of making your own book trailer, it helps to check out what other authors have done. If you visit YouTube, and type in "romance novel," a number of examples will pop up. When you're in the YouTube neighborhood, please do stop by and say 'hi'; you can find me at the following YouTube address: http://www.youtube.com/user/sarafreeze1.

Mini Trailer

2007-07-13T21:16:00.001-05:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

2007-07-10T11:02:00.000-05:00

According to an online message board, Kathleen Woodiwiss passed away on July 6, 2007. She inspired an entire generation of readers and writers and will not be soon forgotten. In a fan forum dedicated to Woodiwiss and her works, her son said the following:

"Hello. I am very sorry to inform you all of the death of my mother Kathleen. She took the death of my brother a bit harder than we thought and the cancer came back with a vengence. She passed away Friday morning at 0630 in Princeton, MN. I just want to thank you all for all of your support and being such great fans. My Mom was amazed at all of the people that supported her. Her final book is done, but not finished. We will be trying to polish it up for her. Her editor at Harper Collins has been a great source of stress for my Mom and the rest of us as well, so I am not sure how that will work out, but we are trying to get the book published as fast as possible. We all want this to be her greatest book ever. Thank you again for all of your support.

Heath"

Review from Fallen Angel Reviews

2007-07-05T09:25:00.000-05:00

More good news this week: I received a glowing review from Marlene at Fallen Angel Reviews. In the review, Marlene states that "I enjoyed The Earl’s Enchantment for a number of reasons, but mostly because Sara Freeze has written memorable characters that are still making me smile!" For the entire review, please visit the Fallen Angel Review site here.

My second bit of happy news is that THE EARL'S ENCHANTMENT is once again on the bestseller lists. It is currently #8 on The Wild Rose Press main page and #9 at allshortstories.com. The story was released over two months ago, so I'm very pleasantly surprised that readers are still finding it. You may find THE EARL'S ENCHANTMENT by visiting the Wild Rose Press here.

Coming Soon: A Seaside Enchantment

2007-07-03T16:05:00.000-05:00

More good news- I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for my new story last week. A Seaside Enchantment will be a Miniature Rose (about 30 pages), and it is a time travel romance featuring the Regency era. Currently, the story is still in the editing stage, and I'm looking forward to seeing the new cover; The Wild Rose Press always has beautiful covers!

BLURB:

"Of all the seaside cottages in all the villages in all the world, she had to haunt the one I'm renting." After being seriously wounded in the line of duty, Justin has retreated from the world by renting an isolated cottage along the English coastline. The next thing he knows, he's plunged into a time-travel adventure as he meets the trapped spirit of a lovely nineteenth century lady, Julia.
As Julia explains, she's been awaiting her champion. All he has to do to free her from her entrapment as a spirit is to perform a spell, travel 200 years into the past, find the villain who first worked the spell, and then vanquish the fellow. Easy, right? Justin suspects not, but he's prepared to take on the world, in whatever time period, to fight for his new love.

Review from The Romance Studio

2007-06-26T10:49:00.001-05:00

I was thrilled to receive another review for THE EARL'S ENCHANTMENT last week. In the review, Maura Frankman remarks that "the author is equally adept in historical, contemporary and paranormal aspects of this very good romance." For more, please visit The Romance Studio website here.

Historical Romance Club Contest

2007-06-26T08:37:00.000-05:00

From the Historical Romance Club:

Historical Romance Club is celebrating it's 4th Anniversary with a HUGE Contest! With over Forty books generously donated by some of your favorite Romance Authors, we are giving away Four GRAND PRIZES. The Diamond Prize Package; The Ruby Prize Package; The Emerald Prize Package; and The Sapphire Prize Package. Each package contains a mix of both eBooks and Print Books.

Prize List:

The Diamond Prize Package:

Faery Special Romances (print and bath salts) by Jaquie Rogers

The Importance of Almack's (ebook) by Denise Patrick

In the Wind's Eye (ebook) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

Long Strange Trip (print) by Vicki GaiaMidnight Magic (print - hardcover) by Shari Anton

Midnight Marriage (ebook) by Jean Fullerton

Secrets in the Annex (ebook) by Ann Cory

Summer Wind (ebook) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

Tethers (ebook) by Sara Reinke

The Tribute (ebook) by Beth Williamson

Twilight's Kiss (print) by Marly Mathews

The Ruby Prize Package:

The Accidental Countess (ebook) by Melissa Schroeder

A Knight of Passion (ebook) by Ingela F. Hyatt

Allegra's Seduction (ebook) by Monica M. Martin

Always, My Love (ebook) by Phyllis Campbell

An Unexpected Engagement (print) by Sara Reinke

The Cheiftain's Bride (ebook) by Kate Hill

I'll Be Yours (ebook) by Marly Mathews

The Irish Countess (print) by Janet Quinn

The Mad Knight's Bride (print) by Kate Hill

Melting Iron (print) by Ann Cory

Sword of Rhoswen (ebook) by Brenda Williamson

The Emerald Prize Package:

A Dark Guardian (ebook) by Donna Grant

A Knight of Passion (print) by Ingela F. Hyatt

Come The Night (print) by Angelique Armae

Crossing the Line (print) by Catherine Stang

Dance of Desire (print) by Catherine Kean

My Lady's Protector: Knight of Pentacles (ebook) by Monica M. Martin

Prisoners of the Wind (ebook) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

Twilight's Kiss (ebook) by Marly Mathews

Under a Warlock's Spell (ebook) by Ann Cory

Vows Of Deception (ebook) by Phyllis Campbell

The WyndMaster's Lady (ebook) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

The Sapphire Prize Package:

Book of Days (ebook) by Sara Reinke

Cradle the Light (ebook) by Vicki Gaia

Cutlasses and Caresses (ebook) by Jean Fullerton

Dead Walkers The Protectorate (ebook) by Angelique Armae

The Earl's Enchantment (ebook) by Sara Freeze

Holding Out For A Hero (ebook) by Phyllis Campbell

In Sunshine or In Shadow (print) by Cynthia Owens

The Kilted Governess (ebook) by Janet Quinn

The Passenger (print) by Joie LesinSilk and Magic 2 (print) by M.A. duBarry

WindFall (print) by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

How to Enter:Simply visit HRC (http://www.historicalromanceclub.com/) and click on the Contest Logo at the top of the Romance News on the index page. Be sure to read through the Contest Rules before filling out the entry form...And remember, you must be 18 or older to enter. ;) Contest Closes:July 31, 2007 at 9:00pm EDT, so hurry and enter today!

And while you're visiting HRC, check out our extensive list of HRC Authors, Reviews, and Interviews

CK2S Kwips and Kritiques Review

2007-06-19T17:34:00.000-05:00

THE EARL'S ENCHANTMENT received a wonderful review by Joyce at CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. In the review, Joyce comments that "THE EARL’S ENCHANTMENT is well written and well thought out. Sara Freeze is one of the names I will be reading again soon." To read the rest of the review, please visit CK2S Kwips and Kritiques.

Review from Romantic Observer/Realms of Love

2007-06-08T15:00:00.000-05:00

"The Earl's Enchantment" received a lovely review from Realms of Love and Romantic Observer, which is its sister site. In fact, on the rating system, it received a 4/5, a happy rating for a short story. The reviewer, Scarlet, remarked that "Sara Freeze’s glimpse into the life of an honorable, imprisoned ghost is a tiny nugget of delight."

Authors As Book Reviewers

2007-06-04T18:40:00.000-05:00

As I said in some previous posts, I'm busily engaged in my reading/writing program for the summer. I'm finding that as I become a better reader, I also become a better writer. Therefore, I'm constantly on the lookout for new books to add to the program. To aid that effort, I joined a new trend among authors: Becoming a book reviewer at an online review site. In my case, I'm interested in writing paranormal romances, so I signed on to the Paranormal Romance Review website.

So far, I've really enjoyed the experience of carefully reading, summarizing, and analyzing books. I now actively look for aspects of characterization, plot, and setting both when I read and when I write. However, authors who also serve as reviewers need to be diplomatic in their roles. My policy is if I don't have anything nice to say, I don't say anything at all. Thus far, I've enjoyed every book I've read. If there was ever a case where I was unable to comment kindly on a fellow author's work, I feel the best response would be to allow the review coordinator to find another reviewer.

To read my very first review and check out my reviewer space, please visit the PNR website at http://www.paranormalromance.org/reviews/user.php?id=8517.

Character vs. Concept

2007-05-31T10:25:00.001-05:00

As part of my reading/writing program, I've been reading a number of paranormal romance novels published within the last 10 years. And, I've gleaned an important lesson from all this reading: Never sacrifice characterization to a glitzy concept. The best paranormal romances have strong characters with clearly defined goals and motivation, which then give rise to the conflict. In weaker paranormal romances, the characters seem like cardboard cutouts that are present simply to serve as props for the paranormal element(s).

Recently, I picked up a paranormal romance by a popular author because I was attracted by the concept of the book. When I finished the book, though, I felt that I really understood the world the author had created; however, I never fully understood the characters, which meant I couldn't buy into the conflict that was established between them. Still, the lesson above was reinforced: When I read romances, the characters have to be well-developed so that the conflict between/within the characters sustain the plot and keep me reading. I actually care about the characters and what's going to happen to them. If the author is too focused on some other element other than characterization, the novel's pacing suffers. Although I think witches, mythological creatures, and magic are very interesting in and of themselves, they aren't enough to keep me immersed in the book.

Having said all that, I don't always remember my own advice. So, I posted a little sticky note on my computer with the words, "It's the characters, stupid!" I hope it helps!

Book Burning as Protest

2007-05-28T17:49:00.000-05:00

For all my fellow bibliophiles out there, you may be interested in the article on Yahoo called "Mo. man burns books as act of protest." Last month, I posted information about the NEA's study that found the percentage of people who read for pleasure is declining greatly. Tom Wayne, the subject of the Yahoo article, is the owner of a used bookstore. Recently, when he tried to thin out his collection, he was discouraged by how difficult it was to get rid of the books, even when he offered them for free; therefore, he "began burning his books in protest of what he sees as society's diminishing support for the printed word." Like Mr. Wayne, I've also been discouraged by the decreasing numbers of readers, though I'm not sure I would go as far as to burn books. Then again, perhaps radical acts such as Mr. Wayne's will center attention on this persistent problem in today's society.

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-05-22T17:55:00.001-05:00

I tried something new recently with the creation of a slide show. Online promotion is still a very new venture for me, so I'm testing out different ideas.
An intriguing idea, to turn my book cover into a movie poster, came from Dorothy Thompson's blog "How to Promote Your Self-Published eBook (or Print!) ." She recommends the following website to craft your poster: http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/poster.php.

Author of the Week at Candice Gilmer's blog

2007-05-21T18:03:00.000-05:00

Candice Gilmer was kind enough to feature me as Author of the Week over at her blog, Inside an Author's Mind.

Reading and Writing Program

2007-05-17T11:13:00.000-05:00

Since The Earl's Enchantment was published in April, I've been encouraged by its success and have returned to seriously working on my novel. Since May 3rd, I've written over 9000 words, and I'm finding the writing is much easier now that I'm on my new reading and writing program. When I read Stephen King's book On Writing, he mentioned that writers should establish a reading and writing program-- "four to six hours a day, every day." He also mentioned Anthony Trollope (image below), who would write for 2.5 hours every morning before work. When I was a freshman, my British literature professor mentioned Trollope and his work ethic, hoping to guilt all of us into more consistent work habits. The lesson didn't sink in when I was 18, but it certainly is sinking in now that I'm trying to complete a novel. My own program is conservative in comparison to Trollope and King's; I read for 1 hour each day and write at least 500 words per day. On some days, when the Muse is smiling, I've been able to write over 900 words. Occasionally, I fail to meet these goals and give myself a guilt trip, but for the most part, it's a very useful program for a beginning writer.

Musings on Genre

2007-05-15T21:38:00.000-05:00

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about the romance genre and how writers chose their particular subgenres. When I first began writing, I worked on a novel that was a straight historical set in the Regency era. However, I just wasn't happy with the plot, though I liked the plot and the characters. So, I took a break from the novel and completed a short story. To my surprise, that story ended up being a time-travel novel that was set in the Regency era. As I revisited my novel, began to wonder if I could mix paranormal elements with a historical setting. I hadn't heard of the historical-paranormal subgenre before; hence the research machine kicked in, and I discovered authors such as Eve Silver, Jeanne Savery, and Julie Beard (My Fair Lord).

I've found that researching the subgenre I want to write in is immensely helpful. And, it's encouraging to know that other writers are writing and publishing the same types of books that I love to read and write. Since I'm as much a reader as I am a writer, and I believe most writers are like this, it only makes sense to thoroughly investigate my target market as I craft my novel.

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T21:15:00.000-05:00

A rose for all the mothers out there. As my fellow writers know, writing can be an isolating experience, and it's easy to forget the people who are encouraging us in our journey. I know my own mother has cheered me along every step of the way, whether it's reading my latest chapter or traveling to the RWA Conference with me.

New Review for "The Earl's Enchantment" from Love Bites Romance Reviews

2007-04-30T14:11:00.000-05:00

I received a wonderful review by Kelly Wallace at Love Bites Romance Reviews! It's the very first review I've ever received, and I'm so grateful to Kelly and the Love Bites review site for checking out my story.

The first two lines of the review are:
"Sara Freeze has taken a traditional phantom-love story and added some interesting twists that all make sense in the end. The Earl's Enchantment was a short, fun story that kept me intrigued straight through."
Kelly, Love Bites Romance Reviews

To read the full review, please follow this link for Love Bites Romance Reviews.

New Release and Contest News

2007-04-27T07:57:00.000-05:00

To celebrate the release of my first publication, "The Earl's Enchantment," I'll be running a contest between now and May 26th. "The Earl's Enchantment," available now at The Wild Rose Press, is a time travel romance featuring the Regency era. Since the heroine, Caitlin, is an avid reader, as well as a bookseller, I'll be offering a $10 gift card to Borders. In addition, Caitlin and the story's hero, Adrian, have a spirited debate over Jane Austen's standing as an author. Therefore, for all you Jane Austen lovers out there, I'm also offering a Jane Austen action figure to watch over you and inspire you as you read (you can view it below). Last but not least, the winner will receive a free copy of "The Earl's Enchantment."

All you have to do to enter is sign up for my newsletter by May 26th. Please note: If you're already subscribed to my newsletter, you're automatically entered into the contest.

PRIZES:

Release Date and Excerpt for "The Earl's Enchantment"

2007-04-25T10:31:00.000-05:00

"The Earl's Enchantment" will be released at The Wild Rose Press this Friday (April 27)! It's a time travel romance that features the Regency era, and on Friday, I will be posting details for a contest to celebrate my very first publication!

EXCERPT:
Adrian Knighton, Earl of Holworth, hated the twenty first century. Adding to his ire, as a ghost trapped within his own castle, he had limited options regarding his current domain. He glared at the latest inhabitant who’d entered the Holworth Castle…well…Bookshop. Adrian snorted. A bookshop b’God. That the venerable Holworth Castle, which had protected the Dorset countryside for centuries, was now a receptacle for lurid novels and dusty tomes vexed him to no end. Peasants of any kind could simply wander in whenever they wanted, which they did with alarming frequency.

Take this latest peasant, for instance. Back in his day, Adrian thought indignantly, a man dressed in such dishabille would have been expelled from the Holworth keep on his arse. A torn shirt, filthy shoes, and his hair…Adrian had once seen a book on mammals in North America, and for the life of him, he couldn’t understand why an Englishman would want his hair to stick up like a porcupine.

It was simply unbearable and entirely unacceptable…except for her."

Virginia Tech Tragedy

2007-04-17T14:53:00.000-05:00

Like many other Americans, I was stunned to hear the news about the Virginia Tech shootings. It's difficult to comprehend that such a tragedy could occur on a university campus, and I know it will be many months before we can make sense of such a senseless act of violence.

I wish I had some words of wisdom to share, but all I can say is my thoughts and prayers go out to the students, faculty, and staff at Virginia Tech.

Frodo: "I wish none of this had happened."

Gandalf: "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

J.R.R. Tolkien

Promotional Tips for Authors

2007-04-12T14:00:00.000-05:00

So, you have your contract in hand and a release date set with your publisher. Now comes the scary stuff: Promotion. When you're first starting out and money is tight, it helps to focus on establishing an Internet presence. All the sites I've listed below are free, and they're ideal for the new author keen on jumping into the marketing and promotion game.

1. MySpace: The ultimate networking tool. Numerous authors have joined MySpace over the past few years, and by doing a simple search, you can find some of your favorite authors and begin making new friends. Also, by joining romance friendly groups, you can find people with similar interests and perhaps even potential readers.

2. AuthorsDen: "Where authors and readers come together." You can upload your bio, add news and stories, and include links to your other sites.

3. Bebo: A cool new site I recently found out about. Again, it's a wonderful networking tool, and it allows authors to register their books on the site.

4. Blog: Blogger is a user-friendly way to set up a blog, and I've also heard positive remarks about Wordpress and Livejournal. The only downside to blogging is you have to be willing to invest some time into posts; ideally, you should post new material about 2-3 times per week.

Happy writing!

Romance Fun at The Colbert Report

2007-04-10T19:37:00.000-05:00

At the end of March, The Colbert Report had a hilarious spoof on the romance cover model search being conducted by Harlequin. I just caught the show on Tivo and thought I'd share some of the images for fun. The covers of actual romances that he showed were really from Avon, and both eHarlequin and the Avon Romance Blog seemed entertained by Colbert's take on the romance community. You can check out the video clip at the Comedy Central web site.

Online Etiquette for Writers

2007-04-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

My fellow Wild Rose Press author, Sonja Foust, has a wonderful article on her website called "Miss Manners for Ebook Authors." It consistently surprises me to see the types of comments writers will post about their fellow authors, and Sonja includes some sage advice about maintaining a professional image in the online environment.

Redesigned Blog and MySpace Account

2007-04-04T17:49:00.000-05:00

As an ebook author, I know how important web exposure, especially when it comes to attracting prospective readers. And, I did a fair enough job of assembling a blog and MySpace account, incorporating the basic information and using templates. However, I wanted to achieve a more professional image, something that would reflect the focus of my writing, so I turned to the experts. My best advice is to first consult your fellow authors and see who they recommend. That's how I found Jump Start Promotions, which provided a comprehensive questionnaire about what I was looking for regarding design and then was flexible with that design and very responsive to emails. Final result: I now have a beautifully designed blog and MySpace account that I don't have to tinker with anymore.

Cinematic Inspiration: The Phantom of the Opera

2007-03-18T13:25:00.000-05:00

The music, the costumes, the tortured Phantom, the love triangle- what's not to love about this lavish romantic production? All serve as a rich source of inspiration for the romance writer.

So, who would you choose: The dashing and heroic Raoul or the magnetic and compelling Phantom?

New Release from Antonia Pearce!

2007-03-18T13:11:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to my fellow Romance Diva, Antonia Pearce, on her latest publication!

Available at Cobblestone-Press, LLC

What would you do with twenty-four more hours with the lost love of your life? Merryn Porter finds out when a freak accident kills her as she saves her best friends on their wedding day. Unaware she’s dead, she’s also forgotten the bride’s brother died ten years earlier. She does remember he broke her heart.Luke Hanson has been waiting in limbo to atone for rejecting his beloved Merryn and Fate cuts him a deal: twenty-four hours to make up for her suffering. If he succeeds, she gets another shot at life. A miracle really, but everything has a price…

Regency Dress of the Month: March

2007-03-18T11:14:00.000-05:00

Morning Dress, Ackermann's
Morning dress were generally plain and allowed for ease of movement. Generally, they were worn with a cap, as seen in the image above, and the arms and chest were covered. Morning dresses were appropriate both for remaining at home or for early (before noon) walks or carriage rides in the park. The lady above is no doubt working on her morning correspondence, perhaps responding to an invitation or communicating with friends back at home if it is during the London season.

From Regency Etiquette: The Mirror of Graces (1811)
"There are a race of women, who, priding themselves on their superior rank, or wealth, or talents, affect to despise what they deem the adventitious aids of dress. When this folly is seen in female authors, or, what is much the same thing, ladies professing a particularly literary taste, we can at once traces its motive. Wishing to be thought superior to founding any regard on external ornament, they forget external decency; and by slatternness and affectation, render, what is called a learned woman, a kind of scare-crow of her own sex, and a laughing-stock to the other. This error is not so common now with bookish ladies, as it was in the beginning of the last century. Then our sex did, indeed, show that 'a little learning is a dangerous thing.'"

Revising and Editing

2007-03-18T11:13:00.000-05:00

1. Revision: Congratulations! You've finally finished your manuscript! But wait- before you send it off to the eager acquiring editor of your dream publisher, you'll need to do a little revising and editing. Having another pair of eyes check your manuscript is crucial for the revision step. After all, your story is perfect in your head, and as an author, it's easy to overlook small but important breaks in consistency. For instance, when I was submitting the first three chapters of my novel to a contest, I had my sister look over the manuscript, and within the first five minutes, she said, "You have two different ages for your hero. How old is he anyway?" Oops- a big error and one that any editor worth her title would pounce on and mark. Revision also means looking at the big picture. Remember your theme? How does it come through in the final version? And take another look at characterization. Although characters can certainly change during the course of a novel, they should still be recognizable by the time the reader closes up the book.

2. Editing- My absolute best advice, and I guarantee it will work: Read your manuscript aloud. As a composition teacher, I've seen many grammatical errors over the years, which could be easily remedied if the author would go line by line through the manuscript, reading aloud and checking the sentence structure. Yes, you have written a novel, and yes, it's long, but it's yours. Do you really want it showing up at an editor's desk looking anything less than polished and perfect? If you need some brushing up on grammatical concepts, the OWL website is comprehensive and filled with exercises, examples, and techniques relating to grammar and mechanics.

Wild Rose Press: New Release

2007-03-17T11:13:00.000-05:00

Now available from The Wild Rose Press.
Congratulations to my fellow Romance Diva, Jennifer, on her new release!

Desert of Desire by Dara Edmundson

New York reporter Eve Mason is perfectly content in her comfortable world shunning romance for fear of the inevitable heartbreak. When she's sent to interview reclusive author Red Calloway in Sedona, Arizona, she discovers the passion she's been missing her whole life in his desert paradise.

Second Chance Rose by Terry Odell

Rose has had her one true love. After her husband's death, she moves across the country and discovers the special garden her mother told her about in childhood bedtime stories. When she meets Richard, friendship blooms. But can there be second chances for true love?

Garden of Sin by Jennifer Leeland

Shy but brilliant and unsure around women, Forrest Sterling asks Mira Serrano for help. Despite her misgivings, she agrees and a favor turns into something neither can forget. Eight years later, Forrest is back to claim the woman he never forgot. Now, he's giving the lessons to convince Mira that they belong together and he'll use any method to do it.

Reading at Risk Report

2007-03-12T14:34:00.001-05:00

Once again, I'm interrupting the series on writing, but I was very concerned when I read about the latest statistics from the Reading at Risk report. The headline ran "fewer than half of American adults now read literature." What's most worrisome is the steep decline among young readers. According to the NEA, which funds the report, "The rate of decline for the youngest adults, those aged 18 to 24, was 55 percent greater than that of the total adult population." Is anyone else concerned about these statistics? After reading this report, I've resolved to shift some of the money I donate each year to literacy programs; my hope is that as people learn to read, they will acquire a respect for literature and perhaps pass that on to the younger generation. Maybe the number of literary readers will never reach the 90th percentile, but at least we can work to stem this worrisome decline.

Inspiration

2007-03-11T16:41:00.000-05:00

You never know when inspiration will strike. I was hard at work researching various locales of England for my novel when I came across an interesting article by Beatrice Sant called "Wandering Down the Wye" (Realm Magazine, October 2006). Within the article, she briefly mentioned that Hay-on-Wye's castle was turned into a bookshop. Being an unrepentant bibliophile, I found that fact fascinating and instantly went into further research mode. Apparently, the entire town is devoted to books, literally millions of them, and has over 40 bookstores. My imagination went into overdrive, and I thought how I would love to work in a castle-bookshop. Hence, "The Earl's Enchantment" was born.

To the left, you can see a photo of the exterior of the castle, which Richard Booth revitalized when he purchased it. I think creating an original and vivid setting is essential, and with inspiration like Hay Castle, it makes my job as a writer that much easier.

Writing Tips: Drafting

2007-03-11T13:03:00.000-05:00

Okay, so you have the idea, you've brainstormed it for awhile, and now it's time to get down to business. Still, the idea of composing a full draft is daunting, especially when you're working on a novel. What's worse is there's no special secret except staying rooted to your computer for a set time each day. What has helped me is to set up a calendar (actually, two calendars). The first calendar is in an inexpensive daybook, where I jot down the number of words written each day. Then, as a small reward, I give myself a sticker. It's elementary but still a nice treat. Buy the prettiest stickers you can find, and by the end of the month, you'll have a colorful display of the amount of work you've done.

The second calendar is on my computer, where I have a chart set up in Word where I document the number of words written each day. In the last two rows of the chart, I log in how many words written that week and then log the number written thus far this year. I actually received this idea from the website Rose's Colored Glasses, which has an excellent (free) newsletter for writers.

Writing Tips: Brainstorming

2007-03-10T11:11:00.000-05:00

It's exciting to have a new idea for a story, but before you rush to the computer to jump into your draft, take some time brainstorming the plot and characters. These are examples of what have worked for me, and I'd be interested in hearing from other authors about their own writing methods. I have a different notebook devoted to each project, and I keep all my exercises in there. Before I begin any exercise, I like to start off with a little freewriting, where I write for 5-10 minutes and shake out any distracting ideas.

1. Characterization: First, work on the basic features of your characters. One useful tool is to develop a character chart that lists things such as appearance, birthdate, family members, etc. If you don't want to develop your own chart, The Ecletic Writer website has a "Fiction Writer's Character Chart" that you can use. I like to give each character her/his own page and leave some white space so I can add details in later. So, before you start the story, you'll have at least have a basic idea of who your characters are and what their motivation is.

2. Plotting: Next, develop an outline for the story. Some people have very detailed charts and graphs. When I first started, I tried listing all the chapters and then writing down plot elements for each one. Pretty soon, I was confused and discouraged, so I scrapped that method and now only use a basic synopsis. I figured I would have to write one eventually anyway, and it helped me to develop a basic organization for the plot.

3. Theme: What's the overall idea you want to convey in your work? "Love conquers all" or "dreams can come true" are good ones for a romance novel, but there are countless others you can use. Again, this is not set in stone, but knowing the main impression you want the reader to take away can help you during the drafting process.

Once my initial brainstorming is done, I'll type up the results of all my planning. I keep my character sheets and synopsis close at hand when I begin the drafting process, and it helps me to stay organized.

Next: The Drafting Process.

Writing Tips: Back to Basics

2007-03-09T12:56:00.000-05:00

Let's go back to Composition 101 and 102. As a Composition instructor at a Florida university for four years, I use 4 basic tools to teach and motivate students to write. Yes, they're elementary, and yes, they're common knowledge; then why does it seem so few writers use them? I cannot guarantee these tips will pave the road to publication. All I know is that I used them for writing my very first romance story, and I sold that story to the first publisher I submitted it to. So, that said, let's get started. I'll list the 4 tips below and then develop each one in a separate blog.
1. Brainstorm
2. Draft
3. Revise
4. Edit

Cover for "The Earl's Enchantment"

2007-03-07T12:14:00.000-05:00

Much excitement over here- I just received the cover for "The Earl's Enchantment," which is coming soon from The Wild Rose Press.

Here is the blurb:

Now, what's a sweet American girl like Caitlin doing in England, working in a castle/bookstore and communicating with a grumpy ghost? When the story opens, Adrian's still figuring that out himself. In 1806, he very unwillingly found himself transformed into a ghost by an angry ex-lover who also happened to be a very powerful witch. He's been trapped in Holworth Castle for the past two centuries, observing with horror the evolving fashions, hair styles, and conduct of the modern man (and woman).

Then Caitlin walks into the bookshop, and Adrian's world changes. Caitlin, too, feels an intense connection, and she and Adrian are willing to risk anything to bring their worlds together. By the end of this journey, Caitlin and Adrian will have traveled through time, battled a dark and dangerous force, and found themselves well and truly enchanted by each other.

BookCrossing

2007-03-07T11:55:00.000-05:00

If you haven't heard about BookCrossing, it's a fascinating venture I recently discovered on the Internet. Basically, you "release your used books into the wild," after logging onto the website and announce the publication information and where the books can be found. It could be a useful promotional tool (release your own book into the wild), but what I hope it will do is help somehow with the falling literacy rate in the U.S. (now below 50%). Last time I checked, books were being released in India, the U.S., the U.K., and all across the globe.