Fantastic source for all things writing

I'm just doing a quick post today, because ISBW (I should be writing - thought I'd make up my own four letter abbreviation). This is about a fantastic blog that I've been living on since I learned about it during my great, just finished workshop with Shirley Jump. So, for all writers, romance and otherwise, I'd heartily recommend heading over to Les Edgerton's blog. Its full of insights into conflict, outlining, and all things writing related, with a ton of information to go back through and apply to your work. All written in a very readable, often humerous way. I for one, am loving it. And eagerly awaiting my next delivery from Amazon. I'm awaiting one of Les's books, with the inspiring title : Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers on Page One and Never Lets Them Go  so I can read Les's wisdom in bed too!

Love and Chocolate Welcomes my first guest ever - Milaya Marks!

Today, Milaya's book, Spanish Heat, is released by Wild Rose Press under the Wilder Rose imprint. I'm very honoured to Have Milaya here, in person, to tell us about how to find Electronic Markets for Romances. Have a look at her cover. Isn't it great? I think he looks like Tom Cruises younger, better looking brother!

Erotic romance author Milaya Marks’ Spanish Heat is now available from The Wilder Rose Press. Visit Milaya online at http://milayamarks.com/ or follow her on Twitter at @MilayaMarks.

Purchase Spanish Heat from Wild Rose or DigiBooksCafe.
Now, enough from me, and over to Milaya.

Finding Electronic Markets for Romances
by Milaya Marks.


Finding electronic markets for romances is easy if you know where to look. A quick browse around websites, blogs, ezines, forums, loops and more all offer romance authors the chance to learn more about potential online homes for their writing.

Simple Google searches can be a great way to find markets for romances. Searching “romance epublisher”, “romance publisher”, “romance ebooks” and “romance anthologies” can all yield results. Setting up Google alerts for these same phrases will bring new information to your email inbox daily without you having to do any extra work.

Many existing organisations also keep lists of publishers - for good or bad. The Romance Writers of America (www.rwanational.org), the Romantic Novelists Association (www.rna-uk.org) and Romance Writers of Australia (www.romanceaustralia.com) might all be able to offer members more information about electronic markets.

Websites like Romantic Times (www.romantictimes.com) and blogs like Dear Author (http://dearauthor.com) can also be useful research tools if you look at who publishes the ebooks which are reviewed. Similarly, electronic book services like eBooks (www.ebooks.com), Books On Board (www.booksonboard.com) and All Romance EBooks (www.allromanceebooks.com) can be research goldmines as they sell ebooks from a variety of publishers.

Finally, don’t forget general writing sites like WOW! Women on Writing (http://wow-womenonwriting.com), Inkwell Writers (www.inkwellwriters.ie) and Funds for Writers (www.fundsforwriters.com). These sites all offer free email newsletters detailing markets and competitions, some for all writers and some specifically for romance writers.

Finding electronic markets for romance isn’t hard, but it may take a bit of Web browsing. Enjoy it!

Setting as character

I've been thinking about setting, this week. In Romance, setting is vital. Mills and Boon talk about setting in their guidelines for the various lines. The Modern Heat guidelines, for example state the books should be set within a chic, glamorous, and usually urban setting. And the Modern guidelines state that: Readers are whisked away to exclusive jet-set locations to experience smouldering intensity and red-hot desire.
Other lines are not quite as specific, but it is worth noting if writing either a Modern or a Modern Heat that this is what the editors are looking for. The location is just as much part of the story as the characters, and they state that clearly.
But what I'm writing about today is using setting as character. Once you have your ideal location picked, each scene can reveal something new, something that brings the story to life. Breathe atmosphere into the scene, and use the setting to reveal something new, that the story hasn't touched on.
Okay, an example. Sherlock Holmes. The wonderfully atmospheric backdrop of foggy London brings a darkness, a lurking menace. As does Hogwarts in Harry Potter, the weather is often stormy and the sky dark, especially in the scenes where the characters are in trouble. It foreshadows the drama to come. Also in scenes the setting can be used to great dramatic effect when it contrasts with the action. Think of a beautiful summer day, and the shock of a dead body suddenly come upon. Or a heroine in love, in the bright sunshine of a garden, and the effect suddenly coming across her lover with another might wreak.
Hmm. Back to writing!

Minxy Magic

Last year, Mills and Boon ran a fantastic competition for all Mills and Boon wannabe authors. The challenge was to write the first chapter of a Modern or Modern Heat Romance. Over 400 entered, and there were 2 winners, and 2 runners up. There were great forums where writers egged each other on, and a spirit of camaraderie which was, frankly, inspiring. Lots of my blogging friends joined me in this journey. When the winners and runners-up were announced and I wasn't one of them one of the things I missed most was the companionship with like minded writers. Eight of us banded together and started an online critique group - The Minxes of Romance. We work together, toss ideas around, and look at each others work. Its the black cloud's silver lining!
Now the Minxeshave started their own group blogsite - Minxes of Romance, which is going live on Monday! Do pop in and have a look. We'll have a Minx on Monday slot, Author Spotlights on Wednesday (and we've got some lovely authors popping by to tell us about themselves and their latest releases) and an Anything Friday - for anything we like, such as Movie Reviews, Book Reviews and Interesting News.
Here at Love and Chocolate, I've a guest blogger on the 17th - newly published author Milaya Marks will be visiting to tell us all about e-markets to sell your work.
Have a good weekend, everyone!

Doing the happy dance

Well I'm pretty happy this week. After years of writing, I've finally been offered (and greedily grabbed) a contract for my first novel. 53,000 words of romance. Yep, Wild Rose read my re-done, polished manuscript and I'm going to be published.
Woo Hoo! The book is Catch me a Catch, the story of a reluctant matchmaker and a man who's sailed the Atlantic to discover his roots.

Selling this book brings back to me just how lucky I am as a newbie to be able to draw on all the wonderful resources available to help me. I couldn't have achieved publication on my own, there are still so many things to learn, and so many excellent teachers out there who have given so generously of their time and expertise to help me. So it seems only right that this, my jubilant blog entry, says thank you to all of them - all their links are at the side for further details.
First on the list must be Vanessa O'Loughlin of Inkwell Writers, who runs such excellent courses in Dublin. Vanessa is a tireless whirlwind whose encouragement and wise advice is invaluable to new writers. If any Irish writers are reading this, get thee to Inkwell - pronto!
It was at one of Vanessa's workshops - the Mills and Boon one, that I met and learnt from Trish Wylie and Abby Green. Both lovely ladies, full of excellent advice about craft. Thank you, ladies. In Australia last year I attended a workshop by Ally Blake in a library in the foothills of the Dandenong Mountains. It was a great day, and once again, the advice and support was phenomenal. Thanks Ally!
Working on CMAC, I brainstormed the ideas over 2 online courses given by Laurie Schnebley Campbell. Plot via Motivation, and the follow on masterclass. This really helped to make sure that the characters were defined, and Laurie is a gem - I've said it before, but I'll say it again. So thanks, Laurie!
I entered this book into the New Writers Scheme given by the RNA in London, and got it critiqued. I've done the NWS a couple of times, and it means that an experienced romance author reads and comments on your book. Also useful.
Finally, I worked on the book during Don McNairs online class, 21 steps to fog free writing, which was a revelation. Don points out the mistakes that writers make, and teaches you to fix them. Thanks, Don!
I'm lucky enough to have a fabulous group of romance writers to moan to and bounce things off. The Minxes of Romance, so thank you minxes - for everything. Also a shout must go out to all my blogging friends, who are so supportive and have such interesting and informative blogs, and can be guaranteed to dish out sympathy when I need it, and a boot up the ass if needed too. Thank you everyone!
The last person to thank is my editor at Wild Rose, Cindy Davis. Who read my manuscript so quickly and gave such stellar advice on what to change. On Wednesday, It was Cindy who broke the news in a lovely (but freak out making) email. It said simply, "Hi, Sally. Guess What?"

5-5-5 Award

I've received the 5-5-5 award from the lovely Suzanne Jones, so thank you Suz!

So, 5 questions, and 5 answers. Not too taxing! Here goes.

1. Where were you 5 years ago?
Writing sporadically, doing Nano every year.
Charging around dropping kids here and there.
Typing up inventories dated from 1806-1855 and peering at ancient handwriting, trying to make it out.
With a four year old underfoot.
Mourning my dad.

2. What was on your to-do list today?
Writing. It is every day now. I did some.
Get the household up and out - success!
Washing (as writing above)
Catch the mouse in the kitchen - attempted, but failed. Grr!
Do a blog post - you're reading it.

3. What 5 snacks do you enjoy?
Licorice All sorts. Vital writing fodder.
Crackers and strong cheddar.
Chocolate - preferably very dark.
Baileys. Liquid, but thick liquid, so I reckon it counts.
Smash and tunafish. (Shameful, but true)

4. What 5 places have you lived?
Africa
Singapore
Ireland
England
My imagination

5. 5 more bloggers
Hmm, this is a difficult one. I love so many, how can I choose just 5? And I think most of my favorites have been nominated already. I'm including websites, because I think a lot of them are interesting too! So, trying for some new ones...
Tuscanycious - Because I've set my new book on a Tuscan island.
Discover Tuscany blog - full of interesting Tuscan stuff...
Regency House Party - Its not a blog, but its a fascinating reality show on Channel 4, with a Regency House Party as the venue, and all contestants are living the regency life...
Solfatara Volcano website. A different book research subject.
A regency lexicon - Some hilarious words here.

Now I have to nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award. This is also difficult, but I'll start with minxes.
Maya Blake
Romy Sommer
Lorraine Wilson
Joanne Cleary
Sri Pammi
(Get a blog, Nia and you'd be nominated!)

And also,
Maisey Yates (excellent video of Danger Baby!)
Jackie Ashenden (cos I'm following her manuscript's teething problems avidly)
Shirley Jump (because I'm starting an online course with her tomorrow...)
And Trish Wylie (we live on the same island)

A Hughge inspiration

Well, things are going well, over in Love and Chocolate land. I'm revising the 'big reject', which basically involves examining it with a beedy eye, making a rewrite or two, and shouting 'PIZZAZZ! GIVE IT MORE!' at regular intervals, to the fright of my poor bemused family.
I've also started in on a new romance, titled 'Marrying Cade.' Cade is the eye candy that my heroine, Melo has had her eye on since they were teenagers. She thinks she knows him, but he's changed in the ten years since she last saw him. He's not the nice guy she always thought he was. Not even close. Although he has his reasons, which should become clearer as the ms progresses.
Like all good romantic novelists, I've had to do research. Have had to wade through sites of hotties to find him. I'm proud to announce, that the moment I found him the words have been running fast and hot. I know he looks familiar, although his hair is different, and hope you'll all agree that he is a HUGHGE inspiration!
Enjoy!