Break Out the Bubbly and the Dark Chocolate: Celebrating Cathy Perkin's Debut Novel THE PROFESSOR

Author Cathy Perkins

I'm delighted to welcome author Cathy Perkins to the Veranda to celebrate her debut novel THE PROFESSOR published by Carina Press. Cathy and I have an interesting history and I can't wait for you to learn how and where we met. She's not just a wonderful writer, I consider her one of my first out of the area writing friends. I wish her every success and I can't wait for you to read all about her journey to publication!! So let's pop the cork and pour some champagne and enjoy the story.

*Pop*Pour*Sip*

Hi Cathy, welcome to the Veranda. I know we've talked about this before, but tell my readers about your writing journey. How did you decide to be a writer? 

While I’ve had a life-long love affair with reading, I didn’t start writing until about five years ago. This probably isn’t how most people start, but I had a lengthy consulting job in a city about 90 miles away. I’d listen to music and daydream during the commute. Pretty soon the day dream had dialogue and I thought, hmm, this is turning into a good story. That particular book lives in a box under the bed, but I was hooked on writing, creating worlds and characters. Christine and I met right after I finished The Professor – we both had to count backward on our fingers, with moves and when the kids graduated high school as touchstones – at the fall 2007 writing retreat sponsored by the Lowcountry RWA.I learned so much at that Masterclass, I came home and joined a critique group, hoping to learn more. These writers encouraged me to join RWA and enter a few contests, including the Golden Heart. The Professor won those contests and was a Golden Heart finalist, but I kept hearing ‘romantic suspense is dead’ so I really didn’t try to sell the book. Instead, I put the story away and kept writing. About this time last year, I pulled the story out and thought, I love these characters and I want to share them with a wider audience. Carina Press made an offer and I’m thrilled to say the novel released last week, on January 23.

I remember all our long walks along the beach, Cathy. We had lovely long chats about writing. What is your favorite genre to write?

I’ve always loved mysteries and suspense—figuring out the who-dun-it puzzle, delighting when the author keeps me guessing or on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. When I started writing, my stories and characters had secrets, obstacles and a race to uncover the villain. I’m going to slide a second “favorite” part in here—bringing the characters to life, figuring out what makes them tick and throwing the challenges of the plot and relationship at them, is so much fun. It’s probably the best part of writing.

While my book is listed as romantic suspense, it’s really more suspense than romance. Just like thrillers can be anything from an action adventure to an intensely psychological nail-biter, the romantic suspense spectrum covers everything from steamy relationship-focused stories to ones like The Professor, where the relationship is a subplot rather than the focus of the story.  

I know of many Romantic Suspense authors who are moving into the mystery/thriller genres and are doing quite well as their readers follow them. I think it's a great fit for your story. When you write your stories are you a plotter or do you follow the muse?

My stories grow out of day dreams, the snippet of an idea, a what-if. For example, my husband and I were hiking in a game refuge near our house. While pushing through dense undergrowth beside the Snake River, I glanced over my shoulder and said, “Wouldn’t this be a great place to find a body?” The amateur sleuth story grew from that What-if.

Once an idea takes hold, the plot and character evolve together. But I’m a plotter, so the first thing I do when I think the idea has possibilities is sketch an outline of the plot. That outline grows and evolves as my characters’ personalities and motivations flesh out. Things that of course they’d do, add layers or subplots as the story unfolds.

 I wish I was a true plotter. It would make life so much easier at the computer. After you're finished plotting and writing, how do you relax? 

Most weekends we head up to the mountains – I’ve shared a few stories about the wild life, er wildlife, at the Blame It On The Muse blog. Depending on the weather, we may work on the property or head out for hiking or skiing, but 5 PM usually finds us kicked back with a glass of terrific Washington wine.

I bet the mountains are reenergizing and inspiring. What a great way to refresh yourself after working so hard. What are you working on now?  

I'm working on two very different manuscripts right now. One is a dark, financial mystery with the premise: how far will you go for those you love? The mystery revolves around the heroine's father - did he kill to save the company he loves or is he really trying to protect both his family and employees? It's currently out under consideration; think positive thoughts!

We will! Crossing all appendages!!

I'm polishing a light amateur sleuth mystery about a small town CPA—houses, handbags or companies, she knows how to make a deal. When a friend's body turns up beside the Snake River, she has to dodge a vengeful detective - her ex-fiancé - while staying one step ahead of a murderer.  It was a blast to write and fun relief after the intensity of the darker ones. I might publish this series under the pen name Cathy Ann Stewart Hamilton, because when a woman’s initials are CASH, how can she not get involved in finance?At this stage, I feel blessed to have so many opportunities. Ultimately I want to write a story that readers enjoy.

Your projects sound so interesting. I love the way your mind works. CASH is a great way to think about your future pseudonym!! How did you celebrate the “call?”

I missed The Call! I was working out of town with my day job, came home and found Angela James’ voice mail, saying she’d read The Professor and wanted to talk to me about it. I met my critique partner for lunch – I’m not sure that café will welcome us back – and we decided she wouldn’t call to turn me down. Later that afternoon, I got an email extending the offer and setting up a time to talk.

Fabulous Cover!!

I'm so glad she called and you received a contract. What a fun story!! It's been a few years since we walked along the beach, but look where you are now! What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Never give up! The road to publication can take all sorts of twists and turns. Whether an agent or editor will want your story can involve timing and other project they’re working on, as much as the merits of your story. Add in individual likes and hot-buttons and you just have to keep working and submitting. If it’s rejected, remember it’s business, not personal.

The second piece of advice is, keep learning. I’ve sat next to multi-published, NY Times best-selling authors and watched them take notes in a conference class. Sometimes it’s a new concept and sometimes a speaker hits me between the eyes with exactly the question or idea that I needed to pull a scene together!

There are so many new avenues for authors – traditional and small presses, digital first, and self-publishing. I’ll leave you with some advice Angela James offered at the Emerald City Conference – just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Her point was, make sure whatever you send out is ready, polished and your best work.

Cathy, that is excellent advice. I shall take it to heart. And I love it when I see top selling authors taking notes during the workshops that I attend. James Scott Bell says one should never stop learning the craft. Thanks so much for visiting the Veranda and sharing your writing journey.

Cathy Perkins can be reached via the following ways:

website: www.cperkinswrites.com

twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cperkinswrites

facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/CathyPerkinsAuthor

You can order THE PROFESSOR from these sites:

Amazon-- THE PROFESSOR. 

Barnes & Noble -- here. 

Carina Press -- here.

Break Out the Bubbly and the Dark Chocolate: Celebrating Adrienne Giordano's Debut Novel MAN LAW

Hi Everyone. I'd like to welcome a dear friend to the blog today as we celebrate her debut novel, MAN LAW. I met Adrienne Giordano through the online motivation group GOAL IN A MONTH or as we like to call it GIAMx4. Adrienne's debut novel MAN LAW is available digitally and is sold through CARINA Press. The cover is super delicious. I know I will LOVE this book. Adrienne is taking over my blog and telling us all about her own distractions after she got THE CALL. The call is the elusive thing we unpublished authors dream about getting, but after the call, the real work begins! So welcome Adrienne. 

*pop* *pour champagne* and *sip*

My Attempt to Manage Distraction 

by 

Adrienne Giordano

This is Adrienne's cover. Nice Distraction!!

I'll admit I've been distracted lately.  I'm trying not to beat myself up over it because in the last four months I've been through nine rounds of editorial edits on three books.  I've also needed to revamp my website, set up author accounts on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Library Thing, etc.  And let's not forget I'm a co-founder of Romance University, a busy and growing blog. Oh, and I'm also working on a new book. Not to mention I have a life outside of writing.

The thing I've figured out is that I'm not special. Hard to admit, sure, but this chaos, apparently, is day to day life for published authors. Rather a scary thought, no?

After absorbing the fact that all the marketing aspects of promoting a book wouldn't go away, I had to decide how to manage my distraction and not let it get in the way of my writing. I had to make brutal decisions about eliminating some of my online groups because I was spending close to two hours each day scrolling through digests. I also had to cut back on the blogs I visited daily. It's hard to back away from things I enjoy, but unless someone could give me another five hours in the day, things had to go.

After cutting back where I could, I implemented a plan to work for a specific amount of time each day on marketing. Of course, immediately after implementing said plan I received edits on book three and had to go into my cave and ignore everything but the book in front of me. That was okay. I just picked up my plan when I finished the edits. The downfall was that I had to dig out from everything that piled up while I was in my cave. It's a never-ending balance that I will keep working at.

What I absolutely know for sure is that if I allow myself to go over my allotted time for each task, I will completely lose control of my day and get no writing done.  Why, you ask, don't I write first and do the other tasks later? I've tried that. Unfortunately, all those emails and tasks nag at me and it distracts me all the more. If nothing else, I've determined that I'm one of those people who needs to clear everything out before I can concentrate on my writing.

It's a process that's evolving. It will probably never be seamless, but if I stay focused on keeping at least a little control over my day, maybe a routine will develop.

I hope.

Thanks so much for coming and sharing the pitfalls of social media after one is published! And you're right, Adrienne, this is a time when the focus has to be on promoting your books. I am very excited that you're debut novel is out and I can't wait to read it!!

Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and women's fiction.  She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest. She is a co-founder of Romance University blog. Adrienne's debut romantic suspense, Man Law, will be released by Carina Press on July 4, 2011. Her second book, A Just Deception, will be available from Carina Press on September 5, 2011. For more information please visit www.AdrienneGiordano.com.  Adrienne can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Break Out the Bubbly & Dark Chocolate--Celebrating Amy Atwell's Debut Novel LYING EYES!

I'm very happy and excited to open up a bottle of my best champagne for my fearless GIAM (Goal in a Month) leader Amy Atwell. Amy is an inspiration to me as a mentor, writer, and friend. We're celebrating her debut novel, Lying Eyes, which releases today! 
Pop! Pouring bubbly and breaking out the dark chocolate.


Hi Amy, welcome to the veranda. 
Thanks for inviting me to join you and meet your readers, Christine.  The verandah, by the way, is lovely.
How did you end up becoming a writer?

.

A rather circuitous path. I wrote throughout my childhood and adolescence.  Poems, songs, short stories.  I was fascinated with dialogue and comedic timing on television and would scribble notes while I watched shows.  In high school, I joined the drama club—and no, it was not nearly as cool as Glee, although it was a lot of fun.  But that led to studying theater and Shakespeare and then years of working in regional and community theaters. Play scripts and the stories in them were my love, and one day I realized that what I really wanted to do was write.  I quit the theater and got a job and started writing my story ideas in my free time. Back then, it hadn’t occurred to me to try to make a career of it.

What is your favorite genre to write?

No fair!  I love all the genres I write.  I started writing Regency period historicals because that’s what I read for years and years. Then I had a crazy notion to write a romance about the theater scene in New York.  Then I moved to Chicago, so I wrote about Chicago. Then even though I know next to nothing about medievals, I wrote a medieval romantic suspense.  And then Cosmo knocked on my door, and I wrote Lying Eyes.

 

I'm intrigued already. Can't wait to meet Cosmo. Are you a plotter or do you follow the muse?

I see characters and scenes in my head.  Maybe because of all the years in theater, I hear dialogue very clearly.  So, I generally let the muse run free for much of the first draft.  Then I roll up my sleeves for some plotting analysis.  Lying Eyes was different because I had editors waiting to see that story.  Most of the material in that story—except the opening 30-40 pages—is close to first draft.  I plotted a few chapters ahead as I wrote and prayed my critique partners would help me clean up the mess if I derailed the story.  They kept telling me it was fine.  My editor agreed.

How do you relax after a writing day?

Don’t laugh. I run an online writing community, and I have a lot of little tasks that make me feel like I accomplished something. I like to check things off lists, so these little tasks make me feel successful and relaxed.  Oh, and I can do most of them over a cup of coffee (morning) or wine (night).  I’ve also been known to turn off the computer AND the phone for Mad Men, Dr. Who, The Office and 30 Rock.

As a member of your community, I can say it's a great way to unwind. The *cyber support* is balm to a writer's soul. 


What do you read? What are your favorite genres? And your favorite authors?

I read anything that has a story that captures my famous.  I love romance and women’s fiction, but I also enjoy a good mystery or thriller. And I find I’m peeking at some YA stories to see what all the hype is about.  Favorite authors?  Jenny Crusie, Madeline Hunter, Jane Austen, Jean Auel, Tom Clancy, Dorothy L. Sayers, Dick Francis, Georgette Heyer, Elswyth Thane (I’m dating myself with those last five).  A new author who stunned me with her work is Therese Walsh.
What is your current project? What can we look forward to reading next?

I’m currently working on the sequel to Lying Eyes. This one is Cheating Hearts and features another of Cosmo’s daughters.  Of course, I also have a mainstream historical set during the Wars of the Roses calling me. And then there’s this pesky pair of characters out in San Francisco who have the beginnings of a great suspense story I’m jotting down. 

You have a lot of ideas and stories floating in your head. Fabulous! I can't wait to meet Cosmo's next daughter. What is the most difficult part about writing for you? 

Oddly enough, the hardest part for me is focusing and getting started on one story.  Once I’m into a story, I’m all there.  But if I’m multi-tasking life or additional stories, it can be a bear to get me to sit down and write.  (And I can name a dozen people who will read this and agree.)

I completely understand how multi-tasking zaps focus. 

Where do you get your ideas for your stories?

Everywhere.  Honestly, I trip over ideas.  I have a lengthy list of them on my computer.  For Lying Eyes, the title came when I was listening to Eagles’ song on the radio one day.  Liked the title, realized that “lying” would be an important factor. More than that, I wanted everything in the story to be a lie of some form or another.  That’s when Cosmo Fortune, my heroine’s father, popped up and announced he was a magician.  A master of illusion.  Then I made my heroine not just a jeweler but a costume jeweler. I just keep piecing things together that work. What doesn’t work, I toss.  

Cutting ideas is part of the creative process. *sipping my bubbly* Ah, but it is necessary for writers to learn. 


How long were you trying to get published before you got the “call?”

Ten years, give or take.  I took a couple writing breaks.  I had a big corporate job transfer that stalled my writing for over a year. Then my mother died suddenly in 2005. About nine months after her death I stopped writing for nearly 18 months. I stayed connected with my writing friends through WritingGIAM and when I returned to writing, I came back determined.  Still, it took nearly two years to sell Lying Eyes. When we first marketed it, Carina Press didn’t yet exist. In publishing, part of the equation is timing.

Amy, I am sorry you lost your mother. *hugs* But I'm very glad you returned to your writing with the determination to get published because now we get to read your stories. 


What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Write. Write what’s in your heart. Study. Study the market, but don’t it let completely change those stories of your heart. The market is always changing. Your stories are you and no one but you can tell them. Share them with the world.

Oh, and find a support network. It may be local, it may be online. But connect with other writers. Writing is a very solitary endeavor, but that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone.  I would have given up writing if it weren’t for GIAM.

What encouragement can you give writers who face rejection?

Let me be your poster child!  I swear, I’ve been rejected by top editors and agents. I’ve received painful comments about my work from industry professionals and contest judges.  If you’re familiar with Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® contest, I had one entry that received a “9” (their highest scores) and a “1” (their lowest score). 

Reading is Subjective.  Repeat that. Not every reader will love your work, but in publishing it often takes only one person to get behind you to turn the tide.  A rejection is nothing more than a single person’s opinion of a specific submission on a given day. 

Thanks so much for having me, Christine!  I’d love to offer up a digital copy of Lying Eyes to one of your readers. 

I'm so glad you joined me on the veranda. Thank you for offering a digital copy of Lying Eyes to one of my readers. I can't wait to see who gets their name pulled from this week! Congratulations on your release!!  

Amy Atwell worked in professional theater for 15 years before turning from the stage to the page to write fiction. She now gives her imagination free rein in both contemporary and historical stories that combine adventure and romance. An Ohio native, Amy has lived all across the country and now resides on a barrier island in Florida with her husband and two Russian Blues. Find Amy online at her website, What’s the Story? blog, Facebook, Twitter and GoodReads.

Lying Eyes is available from Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online booksellers.

A Great Southern Magic Chapter Event on June 26, 2010

Southern Magic's June 26 Meeting 

Angela James with Carina Press will be at the Southern Magic June 26 meeting in Birmingham, Alabama. As a member of Alabama's Southern Magic Romance Writing Chapter. I try to attend as many of the meetings as I can despite living an hour and a half away from Birmingham. First of all, I love catching up with  my friends and I love learning about the writing world through their fabulous programs.

However, I can't attend June 26's meeting even though I had planned to attend due to a travel conflict--darling daughter is touring colleges and I am her chauffeur. But I really really really wanted to attend and I believe that if you are in the Birmingham area and can make it to the Southern Magic meeting, member or not, you might want to as well. 


Why? Because even if you never plan to be published by an E-Publisher, you might learn that this is a viable option for you as a writer. Yes, we’ll always have paperback and hardback books. But those are getting more expensive each year and electronics (expensive on their own) will become more popular. 


E Publishing is part of our writing future. I know I need to find out everything I can about it to be prepared for this future. And I must confess, I actually tried to persuade my daughter (okay, I BEGGED) to wait one more week to head north because I desperately wanted to attend this meeting.


But I didn't convince her and I don't blame her--part of the caveat of this trip is to head north to see her best friend in Virginia. I promised her we'd find a way to get her and her BFF together despite moving her to Alabama and I've kept that promise. Yes, I chose motherhood over writing life because I don't get to do any revisions if I mess up in the mothering department. Promises made are promises kept (tho' I did stoop to begging, she and I knew that I'd miss that meeting).


So please go to this meeting for me! Take copious notes if you attend--share them with me. 


This is me, shamelessly begging again....

To E or Not to E

Today great excitement on the PRO loops, the CHAPTER loops and amongst many writers when HQN announced its DRM/Carina Press launch.

For those of us who are just not quite a fit, it might be a great idea. It's a Digital E Pub launch. No print. But a sister of HQN and wow, what a great big sister to have in your publishing corner.

But this raises so many questions for unpub'd authors. Agents? Do you like E or not? What if you've got requests out there and you're waiting for answers (like me and countless others with fulls at Agencies)? And how are they paid?

And what about the contracts? The royalty amounts? PAN status? So many questions....

But yet, so many possibilities. I checked the blog and it intrigued me. As a writer to read an editor saying she's excited about not having to "fit" a book into a category genre is very exciting. Heck, I have a CR with a heroine who's a shock jock, writer testing vibrators and reviewing them online... and by the way, it does have a plot, too!

Where the heck do I put that? Yes. I entered this in the GH. Funny. But it has all the story elements--really!

So to E or not to E... that is the question.... for now, it remains... unanswered.