Writing Life & Tidbits & Sneak Interview Peek: Alethea Spiridon-Hopson, Entangled Editor

Wow, I've been a busy bee these past few weeks. The Physicist has been gearing up for a very long trip overseas to parts unknown, and the College Kid has had some health issues I've had to wrangle long distance so my free time to blog has been minimized.

I love blogging and connecting with my cyber world. It's another water cooler for me, but if I have less time in my day it means setting the blog aside. Why? Oh, that writing thing I do? The stories I need to generate? They always come first. I've put myself on a series romance schedule of 3 books a year. I'd like to add to that schedule, but quality is important as well. I'm dedicated to mastering my craft and becoming even more adept at revising. More about that on Wednesday as I tease you about my current WIP.

In addition to real world interferences and my writing taking on a life of its own, I've been coordinating the 2013 Linda Howard of Excellence Contest. The deadline is approaching fast! February 22nd is just around the corner. I'm excited about the final judges and who will win this prestigious award. I won it last year and my interview about the Linda Howard Contest is running concurrently with today's blog. I've never been interviewed about my writing experiences before. It was fun. So check out www.magiccitywriting.blogspot.com for that interview.

Though I've only given one interview, I have interviewed so many of my wonderful friends who have had debut novels and achieved their dream of publication. I love their stories because they give me hope that the dream is attainable. And now, in another new thing for me to do, I have interviewed four delightful people on the other side of the publishing fence: 3 editors and 1 agent. All this for the Linda Howard Award of Excellence.

I learned a lot from these wonderful women. The main thing was that they care about writing and the stories and the craft as much as I do. And they're also very generous with their time and energy even though they have real lives and work demands, too.

My first interview will be up tomorrow on www.romancemagicians.blogspot.com with Entangled Editor Alethea Spiridon-Hopson who is judging our Contemporary Series finalists this year. Here's a sneak peak at what she has to say when I asked Alethea this question:

What do you consider the most important qualities of an author?

Flexibility, professionalism, cooperation, patience, and kindness in how they deal with you. Sounds simple and what should be, but you have no idea... it's often not the case.

Wow. Kindness. The Golden Rule. Let's hope we all apply it regardless of where we are in our publishing and writing journeys.

To find out what Alethea's looking for and more, visit the Romance Magicians Blog at www.romancemagicians.blogspot.com on Tuesday, February 12th. Polish your entries now. The 2013 Linda Howard Award of Excellence is still open for your diamond waiting to be discovered. Check out www.southernmagic.org for details.

Happy Writing!

Computer Meltdown & Winner of WORTH THE RISK

A short post to remind everyone to back up their work onto a portable hard drive. I'm glad I did!! My entire computer's hard drive is backed up onto a portable hard drive every day. Good thing I do this because my trusty little laptop Mac is hosed. Yup. HOSED. I can't tell you how painful it has been to watch my Mac slowly die. Yup. Painful. So now it's at the Apple Store where I hope it is fixed SOONER than later, but the truth is I could be without my own computer until next week.

Not a huge big deal except I can't restore my hard drive with all my email contacts, some of them very important like editor and agent email addresses, until my computer is returned to me. Sigh. I have to say, I'm more upset about losing email viability and my instant connection to the Internet. All my lovely bookmarks are -- well -- they aren't on the Physicist's laptop.

So that has put me in a bit of a bad mood. Just a bit. And of course all this happens during my struggle to craft a new story. One which has been giving me fits. And it all happens while I'm taking an awesome online class with Roxanne St. Claire so now it's hard to post my homework. And I'm in the middle of trying to get a website made and posted which means emailing the designer and working from a "blind" position.

Oh, did I mention my WORLD is on the Internet? Yep. I am a slave to it in so many ways. Most of my friends don't live here. The friends I do have here work full time jobs and/or are busy writing so the only contact I have with them is via email or Facebook or Twitter.

Oh, how I miss my tweetdeck. Sigh.

I do have the Physicist's laptop at my disposal, but I feel like an interloper in a foreign land while I'm using it. The keyboard is unfamiliar and the way my hands rest on his bigger computer hurts my wrists. I am, to be honest, bereft.

But at least I will have my hard drive restored to me very soon. Hopefully no later than Tuesday.

And now, because I'd rather celebrate than whine about life anymore, here is the winner of WORTH THE RISK by Robin Bielman.

STEPHANIE JONES!!!!

Congratulations!!

Break Out the Bubbly and the Dark Chocolate: Celebrating Robin Bielman's Debut Novel WORTH THE RISK

Hi Everyone: I can't wait to introduce you to a very special writer friend who has her debut novel WORTH THE RISK debuting this month. Robin and I met during the 2009 MOONLIGHT & MAGNOLIAS Regional Conference. We were Maggie Finalists and sat at the same table. I had so much fun getting to know her and we've kept in touch during the years that have followed. I'm so happy for her about her debut and can't wait to share her writing journey with you all.

Pop*Bubbles*Pour--Welcome to the Veranda, Robin!

Author Robin Bielman

Thanks so much for having me, Christine! You are awesome to invite me, and I’m so happy to be here. 

I'm happy you are celebrating your debut! How did you end up becoming a writer? 

I’ve always liked to write and after I graduated from college I got a job with a local production company where I wrote commercials, corporate videos and cable programs. That led to freelance writing when I had my kids, and finally to writing fiction. I really wish I’d realized earlier that I wanted to write novels, but it’s always taken me a while to figure things out.

I'm a late bloomer as well. But now here we are: writers talking about writing.  What is your favorite genre to write? 

I love to write contemporary and paranormal. 

Are you a plotter or do you follow the muse? 

I am a total pantser! I love sitting down to write and letting my characters lead the way. Since writing WORTH THE RISK, though, I do briefly outline my stories, just so I have some idea of where I want to go. But that often changes—and I love when that happens! I love when my characters take me in a direction I didn’t see coming.

I think you might become a hybrid writer, Robin. A Plantzer as Roxanne St. Claire likes to call the method. How do you relax after a writing day? 

Relax? What’s that? Actually, at the end of the day my favorite thing to do is curl up on the couch with my hubby and watch TV.

I do, too. It's the perfect way to chill. What do you read? What are your favorite genres? Who are your favorite authors? 

I wish I had more hours in the day so I could read more! My favorite genre is romance and I’ll read anything in that genre. I love it all! I also love young adult and women’s fiction. I have tons of favorite authors in those genres, so how about if I share my two favorite authors outside of those genres ~ Jim Butcher and Thomas Sniegoski. I have a major crush on the heroes from both of their series.

Gorgeous cover!!

Oh, I'll have to read their books. Yummy heroes are a definite hook for me! What is your current project? 

I recently finished a second novella that features McCall, a character I introduced in Worth the Risk. (I love him!) And I’m currently revising a contemporary YA novel.

McCall sounds super divine. I can't wait to read my copy! Where do you get your ideas for your stories? 

My idea for Worth the Risk started with my hero, Dean. I’m a big fan of Outside magazine and I was reading an article about the Best Jobs when one on heritage protection caught my interest. I knew right then that I was going to write a story about a guy with that job, and who loved the environment more than anything else. Then I came up with Samantha – the girl from his past that he’s never stopped loving.

Love the way you got that idea. I'll have to start reading Outside just to find new stories. How long were you trying to get published before you got the “call?” 

I’ve been writing fiction for five years. I love being in my writing cave (I’ve named it Maui) and losing myself to my characters, but there were definitely days when I wondered if I’d ever get the “call.” I truly believe things happen when they’re supposed to happen, and this was my time to happen.

I agree. Everyone has a different path and journey toward publication. How did you celebrate the “call?” 

First, I jumped up and down and squealed! Then there were lots of hugs from my family, tears from my mom (over the phone), and then more jumping up and down. The next night my hubby took me out to dinner.

Sounds like a lot of fun and excitement. Dinner out with hubby is a great way to celebrate the news. Was the “call” an actual phone conversation or an email or a snail mail? 

It was an email. I was so stunned and delirious that I had my hubby read it to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. A phone call with my editor followed. We talked for almost an hour and I couldn’t stop smiling. He was/is awesome! I felt immediately comfortable with him and he had such nice things to say about my book. I am thrilled that my first book is coming out from Entangled Publishing and I hope to contract many more books with them!

I'm very excited to watch your career blossom with Entangled. Do you have an agent? 

I don’t have an agent – yet!

You will soon! What advice would you give aspiring writers? 

Oh my gosh – I often still need advice myself! I guess the most important thing is don’t give up. Keep. Going. And enjoy the journey. I always tried to remind myself that I was lucky that I got to do something every day that made me happy. Regardless of the end result, time spent writing is a gift.

I love your take on writing. "Time spent writing is a gift." Very well put. What encouragement can you give writers who face rejection? 

There's a teaching I like to read whenever I’m feeling down about my writing. It reminds me to keep a positive attitude even when it’s really hard. It’s a Cherokee teaching called Two Wolves:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" 

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Robin, I love that story. I'm printing it out and putting it on my happy wall. 

Christine, thanks again for having me here on the Veranda! You’re wonderful company!

Here's the blurb just to tease you.... 

Their love was ancient history...until their paths crossed again.

Samantha Bennett put Dean Malloy out of her mind five years ago, when he broke her heart after a summer fling. But now he's back in her life, and ready to steal a heritage protection contract that could make or break her career--if he doesn't steal her heart first. Samantha's vowed to hate him, but it's more than anger heating the competition between them.

With sparks flying across the conference table and sizzling in every touch, Dean proposes a weekend liaison. Anything to have Sam again; anything to get her out of his system. But the unresolved feelings between them complicate both their personal and professional lives, and one wild weekend could turn into a disaster that would destroy the one job that means more to Samantha than anything. For a shot at love...is it worth the risk?

Read the first two chapters here: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/worth-the-risk/

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Worth-the-Risk-ebook/dp/B007XX0MSW/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1335534497&sr=1-6

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/worth-the-risk-robin-bielman/1110435291?ean=2940014542326

Robin Bielman lives in Southern California, a bike ride away from the ocean if she’s feeling really adventurous. She loves books and baking and running on the treadmill while watching her favorite TV shows. When she’s not reading or writing her next story, she’s spending time with her high school sweetheart husband and two sons, most likely watching, playing, or discussing baseball. She drives too fast, drinks too much caffeine, and if every day were Cupcake Day, she’d be a happy camper! She loves to connect with readers. You can find her online at www.robinbielman.com or on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/RobinBielmanWriter and Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/RobinBielman

And remember, a lucky commenter will receive a copy of Robyn's book WORTH THE RISK!!