Category Archives: The process

Carlyle Labuschagne ~ Author Interview

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Carlyle is a South African USA Today Bestselling, award-winning, and international bestselling author with a flair for mixing genres and adding loads of drama to every story she creates!

Check out our interview on YouTube:

Check out HER book below!

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(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)

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Everdal Update #7…

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Update #7 April 14, 2021

WORKING TITLE: Everdal
GENRE: YA/NA Fantasy
Status: Writing First Draft
Days in current Status: 79
Days of actual writing: 19
Current Word Count: 40,890
Current Chapter Count Complete: 16
NEXT STEPS: Complete first draft - Estimated completion date: 5/31/2021

The End…

I am usually a chronological writer. Meaning, I write from the beginning of a story to the end. Every now and then, a scene pops into my mind out of order and I quickly type it up so I don’t forget it, but usually I type my stories in order. So, you can imagine my surprise when I recently typed the final chapter of my latest work in progress… at least five chapters early. I’ve never known what was going to happen so soon into the writing process. To be perfectly honest, I’m excited and a bit weirded out. I’m not sure I want to know the ending so soon… I’m not sure how I feel about it, other than to know that it is the right ending for this particular book. I don’t even know how we get there yet. But, I have a feeling its going to be a crazy, exciting, and bumpy ride. I can’t wait to share this adventure with all of you.

Everything Somewhere by David Kummer #giveaway

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

My name is David Kummer. I’m a young writer who leans towards horror, mystery, dystopian, and young adult fiction. I live in Madison, Indiana, a small town on the Ohio River, with lots of history and settings around here that influence my books. You can see tons about my hometown in my novel, EVERYTHING, SOMEWHERE.

I always answer whenever readers email me, so reach out or check out my blog at https://davidkummer.com. I’ve got a handful of books for you to choose from, all of them inexpensive. Reviews and shares are super appreciated.

You may have read some great authors before and some fascinating books, but you’ve never had an experience like this. Try something and let me convince you.

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Q: What book do you think everyone should read?

As I read more and more books, the one I recommend is always changing. I’ll have one for a few months that I love and want everyone to hear about, and then I find a new one that’s just as amazing. For the last few weeks, I’ve been really high on the book “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens. It’s constantly on the top charts, so likely some of you have already read it, but for everyone who hasn’t, I highly recommend!

I will admit the book is tough at first. There’s lots of long, beautiful descriptions, and the plot is slow at first, but once you get in deep it grabs you by the throat. Those beautiful descriptions that are laborious at first become key to understanding the book and its plot. Reading it made me feel more connected with nature than I ever had before in my life, even though I’ve never visited the place it occurs. The characters are just as captivating, and you really become invested in Kya (the main character) and how her life turns out. One of the best books I’ve read, so definitely check it out!

Q: If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?

For this answer, I could easily have said “Where the Crawdads Sing” again, but instead I’ll go with the book that I became obsessed with two years ago. I’ve written about it extensively on my blog, because I have some really weird/cool stories to go along with the book review, but “The Little Stranger” by Sarah Waters is wildly good! It’s the kind of book I wish I could have written.

While the book is a thriller and a mystery, the beautiful writing takes it from being great to legendary. The plot itself is slow-burning and unnerving, one of the most memorable. There are hints of love and of ghosts, the struggle of grief. It’s all put together perfectly and sticks to your skin even after you’re finished. The last page is, I think, the best closing I’ve ever read, as haunting as the whole book that preceded it. There’s even a movie, if you’re into that sort of thing! So, yeah, this was kinda just another book recommendation. You’ll thank me later.

Q: What is your writing Kryptonite?

My greatest difficulty writing is that I get so caught up in my characters’ heads. This is a good thing in one sense, because it allows me to fully realize their motives and actions. However, it makes description tricky because I have to keep in mind the world outside of my characters, how the setting relates and reacts to them. That’s one of the hardest parts about writing, especially for me, and it takes vigilance to keep in mind the world beyond my characters’ view. With each book I write, I do a better job, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a struggle!

Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Everything, Somewhere by David Kummer ~ Genre: Contemporary YA Fiction

The power of memories.

Little Rush is a sleepy town on the Ohio River. Bruce Michaels is a renowned Hollywood actor. The two should never cross paths, yet one summer everything changes. The actor, haunted by demons, chasing a ghost. The town, unaware. Until the two collide.

Hudson, Willow, and Mason are high school seniors with very different upbringings, but all on the verge of adulthood. As the sun sets on their final summer, questions abound. Will they ever leave the town? Is there a future here? As their plans waver, time is running out.

The struggle of mental illness.

As he loses his friends and sinks deeper into depression, Hudson forms an unlikely bond with the actor, Bruce Michaels. But the old man is a ticking time bomb. As Hudson relies on him more, the danger to them both grows.

When dark secrets are revealed, Hudson must confront the truth about his idol and himself. Bruce Michaels isn’t who he seems. Hudson is nearly lost. And in the end, they may be more similar than different.

The search for meaning.

Different paths, converging in a web of alcohol, fights, and romance. Worlds collide one summer in Anywhere, USA. The question is who will make it through.

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I am happy to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about Everything Somewhere by David Kummer.

Journey to New Salem by Mark Rosendorf #giveaway

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

Mark Rosendorf ‘s writing is based on the personalities and experiences he has come across throughout his life, coupled with his own wild “if only I could do that” imagination. He is the author of the young adult series, The Witches of Vegas. He is also credited with The Rasner Effect series, a suspense/thriller trilogy published between 2009 and 2012.


Born November, 25th, 1974, and raised in Queens New York, Mark holds a Master’s Degree from Long Island University’s Human Development and Leadership program. He is a licensed Guidance Counselor for the New York City Department of Education’s special education district. He began his counseling career in September, 2001. Prior to that, he worked in the hotel industry.


Mark has also moonlighted as a professional magician. Today, he teaches magic and Illusion to his students in order to teach teamwork while developing their confidence.
Having accomplished his goals of becoming an author, Mark decided on an early retirement from writing. Then, one night, at two a.m., a new and unique story shot into Mark’s brain like a lightning bolt, screaming for him to write it. Mark found himself spending several nights taking notes on the characters and their stories. That is how The Witches of Vegas was born.

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Would you like a chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card, a print copy of Journey to New Salem (US only), or an eBook copy of Journey to New Salem? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Journey To New Salem (The Witches of Vegas Book 2) by Mark Rosendorf ~ Genre: YA Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

The Witches of Vegas are back, and their lives will never be the same again.

A year has passed since The Witches of Vegas saved the city from the evil Wiccan vampire, Valeria. Since then, the show has hit an all-time high. So has the romance between teen witch Isis Rivera and teenage magician, Zack Galloway.

Things couldn’t be any better for them until Isis develops seizures that cause her power to spiral out of control. Fires and earthquakes are just the beginning of the chaos caused by the misfired witchcraft. Unable to find a cure, Isis’ family journeys to New Salem, a fabled village of witches which may or may not even exist. Meanwhile, Zack ends up face to face with the only being who may have a cure…Valeria. But does he dare pay her price?

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The Witches of Vegas (The Witches of Vegas Book 1)

Where can Witches and their vampire mentor practice their powers without being discovered or persecuted?

By using their magic, the Witches of Vegas become the number one act performing on the Las Vegas Strip—a great achievement for them, but not so much for the magicians—who can’t possibly keep pace.

Isis Rivera is the adopted fifteen-year old daughter of The Witches of Vegas. Zack Galloway is the teenage nephew and assistant to the last magician left in the city. Although they should be rivals, when Valeria, a four-hundred-year-old witch with a long-seeded grudge against humanity arrives in Sin-City, both teens act to bring their families together to stop the evil hag in her tracks.

But can the combined witches’ powers and the ingenuity of the magicians be enough to stop Valeria from taking over the city and possibly the world?

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I am happy to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about Journey to New Salem by Mark Rosendorf.

The TWISTED LOVE Series #giveaway

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

Amy Manemann is an International Best Selling Author. She writes sexy and intriguing romantic suspense, young adult paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and dabbles in children’s books. She resides in her hometown along the Mississippi river with her husband and their two children. When she isn’t plotting her next book, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and diving into a good book.

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Stacy Eaton is a USA Today Bestselling author and began her writing career in October of 2010. Stacy took an early retirement from law enforcement after over fifteen years of service in 2016, with her last three years in investigations and crime scene investigation to write full time.

Stacy resides in southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, who works in law enforcement, and her teen daughter. She also has a son who is currently serving in the United States Navy, and two grandchildren.

When Stacy is not writing, she enjoys photography and relaxing on the beach.

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Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Love Lorn (Book 1 of The Twisted Love Series) Written by Bestselling Author Amy Manemann ~ Co-Authored Series with USA Today Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton

Genre: Dark Romantic Suspense, Police Procedural Determined to prove she’s more than just a pretty face, Detective Evie Harper works hard and trains even harder to be the very best. Her first homicide case will put her skills to the test as she and her partner, Detective Stephen Harris, track a ruthless serial killer terrorizing the west end of town. The Lovelorn killer may be one step ahead of them, but they’re closing in fast — until an immoral decision is made that leaves their partnership hanging in the balance.

BUY IT HERE

Love Torn (Book 2 of The Twisted Love Series) Written by USA Today Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton ~ Co-Authored Series with Bestselling Author Amy Manemann

Detective Kali Mann lives by her nickname: The Mann-Eater. She’s a true love them and leave them with no attachments—ever. She a hard-core, to the point, intense detective who takes her job seriously and she doesn’t always play nice with others. When her partner, Keith Harvard, finally gets her to take notice of him, the case they are working goes awry, and suddenly Kali is having emotions she’s not sure she wants. A major part of her past comes back to haunt her and just as she beings to open herself up, her life will be torn apart.

BUY IT HERE

Love Inked

Book 3 of The Twisted Love Series

Written by USA Today Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton & Bestselling Author Amy Manemann

Detective Kali Mann returns from leave to find a new partner assignment. Not only is she bitter about recent events, but she’s irritated to be saddled with the model-beautiful rookie detective Evelyn Harper. What’s worse, Evie doesn’t just want to be partners—she’s striving to make them friends.

Another brutal Serial Killer is in town, and Evie finds that she has a lot to learn, especially when it comes to her new partner. Evie is not deterred, in fact, she’s determined to fit in and earn Kali’s respect, and maybe calm the waters between Kali and Detective Sergeant Greg Shavers in the process.

As Kali and Evie find their footing and search for clues to the recent murder, an explosion rocks their police family, and Kali and Evie team up with others to find the culprits responsible.

An action-packed full-length novel that takes you through the streets of Philly as you ride-along with Detectives Kali Mann and Evie Harper while they deal with crime, tragedy, and new romances.

BUY IT HERE

Love Drowned

Book 4 of The Twisted Love Series

Written by USA Today Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton & Bestselling Author Amy Manemann

Now that Detectives Kali Mann and Evie Harper are finding their footing together as partners, they are digging in deep to solve the major crimes in the Fourteenth District of Philadelphia. When another victim is discovered, and the ritual killing is found to have altered, Evie and Kali scramble to make heads or tails of it.

Evie is pulled undercover to help fellow detective, Josh Westing, and she needs to balance her personal feelings for him, as well as remain professional while in the presence of the Mexican Cartel. Evie will find herself on a precipice to expanding her relationship with CSI Eric VanLacken and it will either grow to a new level or explode into bits and pieces.

While Kali is pushing forward and focused on the serial killings, she finds herself distracted by Detective Sergeant Greg Shavers more than she cares to admit. Special Agent Liam MacCabe continues to lurk on the edge, always there for Kali when she needs it most, especially after she crosses back from the dark side.

Evie and Kali will both spend their days in court, and while one case will get resolved, the other will take one of them to their knees in emotional destruction. Join Evie and Kali as they investigate new cases, dig deeper into current ones, and find their love life’s almost as explosive as dynamite.

BUY IT HERE

Love Carved

Book 5 of The Twisted Love Series

Written by USA Today Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton & Bestselling Author Amy Manemann

After the emotional scene in the cemetery, Kali is finally dealing with Keith’s death. Things are up in the air with her and Greg, and Liam is still showing up when least expected.

Evie is focusing on her future—both professional and personal, and having Josh at her side just makes sense. It’s about the only thing going right in her life, especially with IAB knocking on her door with questions about her partner.

When Evie and Josh run into Kali unexpectedly at a party, they are concerned about what she is involved in, and when a dead body appears in an unexpected location, it hits a little too close to home.

Kali never expected to get stuck in the position that she is in, but when her partners life is put on the line, Kali will do everything that she can to protect her—even if it costs her a piece of her soul.

From explosive scenes, to lives on the line, Evie and Kali are rushing from one dramatic moment to another. Prepare yourself for another wild, emotional, intense and adventurous ride with life, death, and of course, incredible passion.

BUY IT HERE

Love Trapped

Book 6 of The Twisted Love Series

Written by USA Today Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton & Bestselling Author Amy Manemann

When Love Carved ended, everyone at the precinct was up in arms. Emotions are running on high alert, and now the gang has to work together to figure out of it’s the work of the serial killer, or if Sinaloa Cartel and the Los Zetas are behind it all.

Get ready for more intense and passionate drama, along with the heart-thudding roller coaster of emotions that only Kali and Evie can bring you.

PRE ORDER NOW
I am happy to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about The Twisted Love Series.

Grace Rose Thomas ~ Author Interview

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Australia based author Grace Rose Thomas is the YA Urban Fantasy author of The A’vean Chronicles. Check out the video to find out how you can win a copy of her first book Awaken.

(Click on the cover images to order your copy)

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)

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Everdal Update #6…

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Image by Alexandra ❤️A life without animals is not worth living❤️ from Pixabay

Update #6 March 31, 2021

WORKING TITLE: Everdal
GENRE: YA/NA Fantasy
Status: Writing First Draft
Days in current Status: 65
Days of actual writing: 14
Current Word Count: 33,560
Current Chapter Count Complete: 15
NEXT STEPS: Complete first draft - Estimated completion date: 5/31/2021

A Month of Excuses!

If I had a dollar for every excuse I made not to write over the past month… Well, I’d have a lot of dollars.

  • Work Deadlines
  • Kid Commitments
  • Home Owner Obligations
  • Wifely Responsibilities
  • To Tired
  • I Need to Exercise
  • To Much Computer Time
  • I Have to Cook
  • THE LIST GOES ON

No More Excuses!

They say that you are more likely to reach your goals if you write them down and share them with others. Unfortunately, that didn’t work for me… I missed my writing deadline of March 31st (today). But, I don’t give up so easily. I’m setting a new deadline and this time it will stick. Come hell or high water! I will have the first draft of Everdal done by May 31, 2021. I hope each and every one of you reading this, will hold me to it. Comment below… message me… email me (ninasodenbooks@gmail.com)… Tweet me @Nina_Soden… tag me on Instagram Nina_Soden… just find a way to let me know you are pushing me to reach this goal. Sometimes it takes outside inspiration and motivation. Sometimes it just takes finding an extra thirty minutes in a day. I think I need a little of both. Ok, no more slaking… I’m going to go put in an hour of writing and try to get another 1,000 words in before I stop for the night.

Author Interview ~ Adrian Spear

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An interview with Adrian Spear, author of The Soul Warrior!

About the Author

When I was younger, in my teens and early twenties, I found it almost impossible not to share my life’s story. There was reason to be proud- I had survived eight years of abuse at the hands of my foster mother and made it out at age sixteen only to be reunited with my biological parents. But what I had not understood until later is that although my past still gripped my consciousness- it did not define me.

My late teens were extremely rough because I was on a quest to find the love and acceptance I had been denied through the most crucial years of my life. Luckily, my biological parents had stepped back into my life like an anchor and enabled me to slowly heal and grow. I experimented with drugs and put myself in dangerous situations but by the time I had turned twenty-one I knew my life’s purpose was one that involved an education. One of my ways of healing was writing- poetry, short stories, and even journaling. I channeled that into a possible degree at a community college where I started out as an English major, but my love of writing would be challenged after facing the realization that I did not know how to write at college level. Then I took a history class that changed my view and future vision of what I aspired to be. The power of history and knowledge captivated me and soon, I was writing some of the best papers in that class. My college journey was longer than most, but I finally graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s in history with a focus on public history. Now, I work at the amazing living history museum at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

Was it easy, no. I worked in the grocery business since I was seventeen and only quit when I got a job as a student assistant in a library and history center for Caltrans. Hard work and perseverance have followed me throughout my life, and it did when it came to my book, The Soul Warrior. The concept was started in 2012 and it was only a year later that I developed all my characters, with sketches, and started an actual storyline. I started writing it almost a dozen times and restarted it just as many times. But it wasn’t until early 2020 when COVID-19 shut down the world and forced me to stay at home-and I wrote. The last chapter, the last paragraph, the last sentence was so amazing to write because it had almost taken me a decade to get this book finished! I am truly proud of the story I created but also proud of the characters I was able to develop. My main character reflects me and all the things I have survived in my life. She was created to be strong and a fighter which is one heck of a combination.

About the book/characters

My book was inspired by many things including some well-known books, movies and television shows. I was a huge fan of True Blood when it came out on HBO in 2008. But what I loved even more was the Sookie Stackhouse novels they were based on. It was from this wonderful series that made my love of vampires and vampiric lore come alive. Besides being sexualized creatures, they are also seemingly misunderstood beings because of how intricate and complex an actual vampire would be. Imagine living for centuries and experiencing the highs and lows that come with being a vampire. They love but also can’t bear to love because it’s almost torture, especially to love a human. They also must experience the sadness of immortality with all their memories, regrets, and dreams to boot. It was from this idea, from this train of thought that produced the beginnings of The Soul Warrior. I knew I wanted a vampire love story but what I didn’t know was how my vampire characters would evolve.

Believe it or not, my book was originally going to take place in the 1850’s with Lorrain’s soul traveling to the future from the 1700’s. But that changed when I decided to take a stab at redeveloping my vampire characters, Xavier and Queen Dahlia. At first, Xavier was just a regular vampire from the time period and not Native American. Queen Dahlia was also not Native American, and she was one of four original Kings and Queens that I later decided didn’t fit into my new storyline. It wasn’t until I began rewriting (again!) and decided to make some changes. I thought making Xavier a Native American would provide a means of tension between Lorrain and him. Then the thought of making Xavier Queen Dahlia’s son came to be and the rest is history- and their stories are revealed much more in my book.

Spoilers

The Soul Warrior is book one in a series. I have started book two which takes place in the 1750’s in Williamsburg, Virginia. I have added a handful of new characters- two of which I will share with you as a spoiler. The first character I will reveal is a young woman by the name of Paisley. She is a fairy from the Royal Territories where she and her twin sister work at a family shop- where they sell handmade items. She has a green thumb as well, very good in the garden and has a love for all kinds of plants. She will join Lorrain in her purpose and become a love interest for another character.

The other character I developed out of pure joy and was extremely happy with how he turned out. Dominic will be introduced almost halfway through and he is a young gargoyle. His natural instincts are to protect the good and pure, so he becomes an asset to Lorrain and her friends. But he is not very easy to get along with and although he is highly intelligent, he is still very much a teenage boy.

Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card or a Print Copy of the Soul Warrior? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

What Goes into a Killer First Line? And How to Craft Your Own!

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What Goes into a Killer First Line? And How to Craft Your Own!

Guest Post by Desiree Villena

You’ve meticulously outlined a plot, researched the concept, even started thinking about how you might go about publishing your book — now you have to actually put pen to paper and write the first sentence. This should be as simple as putting one foot in front of the other, right?

Alas, it’s rarely such. But if this is the moment you’ve found yourself lost for words, you’re definitely not alone!

Great first lines come in many shapes and sizes, depending on variables like genre, aim, and the events of your opening scene. Rather than giving a one-size-fits-all approach, I’d like to analyze the art of the opener with a few examples, so that you can decide upon the most slick and stylish opening line for your story.

Option #1: Establish a simple fact or event

Sometimes, less is more. Rather than conjuring up something dramatic and unforgettable, sometimes your best option is getting something — anything — down on paper! Opening a scene in the clearest way possible establishes narrative directness, rather than appearing convoluted and overwrought. For an example of an opener that’s both attention-grabbing and fact-based, let’s look at Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend:

“This morning Rino telephoned. I thought he wanted money again and I was ready to say no.”

Here, Ferrante states an event that has occurred and explains it in simple terms. In the first part of this opener, we learn of the event: a conversation, which we soon find out is between an elderly lady and a young man, about a woman who has suddenly gone missing. In the second part, we get a sense of the interesting dynamic between the two, via the protagonist’s assumption over what the call is about. Simple, yet highly effective.

Option #2: Jump into the action

Forget what you were taught at school — starting with exposition is not a hard-and-fast rule when it comes to kicking off your story. In fact, many story structures advocate for cutting straight to the action to establish pace, intrigue, and excitement early on. It also allows for more sophisticated incorporation of character development and backstory as the plot develops.

Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You is a great example of establishing the crunch point of a story in the opener:

 “Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.”

This line is short, sparse, and shocking. The reader immediately understands the crisis upon which the story will likely hinge. It doesn’t waste any time in grabbing the reader’s attention and setting the stage for the mystery that is about to unfold.

Option #3: Set the mood with something literary

That said, a little bit of exposition can be a more appropriate way to begin your story — particularly if it’s a slowburn or a more lighthearted form of fiction, like a romance or a slice-of-life drama. This can be done through the use of a literary device, like a simile or metaphor, or a detailed description of a place or a character.

For example, John Kennedy Tooles’ A Confederacy of Dunces starts with a physical description of Ignatius J. Reilly, Toole’s unpleasant, flatulent, work-shy protagonist:

“A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head.”

This opening instantly establishes the humorous tone of this cult classic, and shows Reilly to be a character with silly and somewhat foolish dimensions. It also figures as a more subtle illustration of the general tone of the story — comical yet description-heavy.

To use a metaphor of my own, this approach might be considered a dimming of the stage lights, rather than setting up the props! Illustrative, expressive writing with a touch of symbolism effectively establishes the ambience of a scene and allows for a gentle build up to the action.

Option #4: Impart some thoughtful philosophy

Some of the most memorable lines in fiction take a more worldly approach. This will require more expansive thinking than the other three tactics — but, when done well, can imbue your writing with an air of authority and significance that goes beyond the relaying of a series of events. L.P. Hartley’s The Go-Between is a classic, oft-cited example of this type of opener:

 “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.”

In this case, Hartley alludes to the regret-tinged tale of his elderly protagonist, Leo, concerning a fateful visit to the country estate of his childhood friend Marcus. Rather than expressing a point of action, this kind of opening steps back from the plot and expresses a sentiment that resonates with the narrative arc of the story. If done well, this can be a stylish and thoughtful way to foreshadow the morale of your story, affirm a particular tone, and impart some wisdom onto your readers. Creative and classy.

If you’re still stumped, fear not! You can start writing your book or story at whichever point you feel is most clarified in your mind — beginning, middle, or end. As long as you keep plugging away, you’re bound to come up with something sooner or later!

The author of this guest post, Desiree Villena, is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects self-publishing authors with the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers. In her spare time, Desiree enjoys reading contemporary fiction and writing short stories.

Author Interview – Jillian Boehme

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An interview with Jillian Boehme, YA Fantasy Author of The Stolen Kingdom!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

What can we expect from you in the future?

More YA fantasy books! And possibly, at some point, some YA SF.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

I love this question! Names are so important to me. My daughter Maggie, when she was around 10, came up with the name “Maralyth” for one of the main characters in my first novel. (This is one of my favorite things to tell people, because Maggie grew up to be an amazing writer—and that first, horrible novel is what inspired her to write!) “Alac” is just a variant of “Alec”; I like the way it looks with the second “a”. The rest of the names in The Stolen Kingdom are either completely made up or are slight tweaks of names that already exist—“Ellian” is a sort of cross between “Lillian” and “Ellen”; “Nelgareth” is made up, but his first name, Ogden, is real; Zeth is sort of “Seth” with a “Z”, which feels stronger; “Nestar” is a variant of “Nester”; “Doreck” is made up; and “Graylearn” is also my own creation.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Because this book is based on the very first (horrible) novel I ever wrote, I dearly enjoyed delving into the world I’d created so many years ago, giving it more depth and richness—and developing beloved characters into new, stronger versions of themselves.

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

If you love a good lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story, this is for you. Also, if you’re mad about secret magic, spare heirs, and girls who aren’t afraid of trying to steal someone’s throne, you’ll enjoy The Stolen Kingdom!

Have you written any other books that are not published?
Almost a dozen. Writing is not for the faint-hearted!

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

Sage, which is Maralyth’s favorite herb, mixed with a woodsy scent.

What did you edit out of this book?

Oh, my goodness. I edited out both a son and a daughter of Lord Nelgareth, as neither one ultimately had an important enough role to play in the story. So many deleted words!

Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?’-type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process of the book.

  • The Stolen Kingdom is based on the first very novel I ever wrote, entitled The Seeds of Perin Faye. It’s a completely different story now!
  • When I was struggling to get the plot right, I pulled out several wooden “Little People” (from my childhood), assigned them each a character name, and moved them around the room, trying to figure out who was supposed to do what.
  • One of my favorite things to do is to have a Barbie and Ken version of my main characters. Maralyth and Alac are currently standing on my desk (you may have seen them on Instagram!).
  • My daughter Maggie is a fabulous writer, and we have the same literary agent! She always reads for me, and her input is invaluable. Sometimes I feel like I can’t write without her!
  • One of the characters in The Seeds of Perin Faye was a tall, Gandalf-y character named Soldan. My husband still does impersonations of Soldan’s ridiculously deep bow. (There is no Soldan in The Stolen Kingdom!)
  • Playlists are extremely important to me. When I first started working on The Stolen Kingdom, I listened to the same music I’d used for The Seeds of Perin Faye. Call me nostalgic! Ultimately, though, it just didn’t work for me. I finally created a new, better playlist that threw me right into the world whenever I sat down to write.
  • Chapter endings take longer than almost any other part of drafting. They have to be JUST RIGHT.

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