Hugh Fritz launches his blog tour of Made to Be Broken; book one in the Mystic Rampage series

Flarence knows that Genies are supposed to help their masters by granting wishes, but he’s never been comfortable taking orders. To him, pummeling bad guys with magically enhanced weaponry feels like a much better way to use his powers.

Darren is a gangster who wants to leave his reckless life behind so he can focus on providing for his family. Unfortunately, there are people in the neighborhood who won’t let him move on.

Soleil is a humble man who tries to lead a passive lifestyle. In times of peace or times of war, he can be found cleaning his cafe or singing along with rock-’n’-roll tunes while tending to his houseplants.

Darren, Soleil, and Flarence will have to work together and step outside their comfort zones when a rogue Genie and a hot-headed police officer threaten the lives of their loved ones. Flarence will be challenged to work with a criminal, Soleil will be forced to leave his sanctuary and act to help his friends, and Darren will face the possibility that being a gentle and caring family man may not be an option for him.

Print Length: 264  Pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Golden Word Books
ASIN: B07RGX8VR3
ISBN-10: 1948749432
ISBN-13: 978-1948749435

Made to be Broken is now available to purchase on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.

Book Giveaway Contest
To win a copy of the book Made to be Broken by R. Hugh Fitz, please enter via Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. Giveaway ends on November 11th at 12 AM EST. We will randomly pick a winner and email them the same day. Good luck!

About the Author
Hugh Fritz is a fan of monsters, mad scientists, sorcerers, and anything that involves being with incredible powers beating each other senseless. After years of writing research papers, he decided it was time to give reality a rest and let his imagination run wild. This is his first book, and it has been an illuminating experience making the transition from reader to author.

He was born in Chicago where he spent most of his life until moving to the Southwest in 2015. He finds inspiration bouncing ideas off other novelists in a critique group, but hours of television and finding the right songs to put him in the writing mood play an important role as well. He has no plans to end the Genies' adventures here, so be on the lookout for more magical mischief in the next book of the Mystic Rampage series.

Find Hugh Fritz online:

Twitter
https://twitter.com/HughFritz1

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Stories-by-Hugh-Fritz-397896477228957/

Author's Website: http://www.hughfritz.com/


Author Interview by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

WOW: Thank you for being with us today and choosing WOW to help promote Made to be Broken! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of your work. I'm sure you are an avid reader as well. Who is your favorite author?

Hugh: I like Brian Harmon, who wrote two series of fantasy novels. One is Temple of the Blind and the other is called Rushed. I don’t like everything he does with his characters and their development, but I enjoy how his stories progress. Temple of the Blind had interesting puzzles and throughout Rushed the hero has found clever ways to defeat the antagonists.

WOW: I love that you can speak objectively about your favorite author - that's very insightful. When did you write your first book or poem? Did you know at a young age that you had a passion for this craft?

Hugh: The first piece I worked on continuously was for a club that I joined in high school. The title was Nidrack and it was a series of skits. Each member of the group was a character, and then there was one random character named Nidrack who I always played. I don’t remember anything inspiring the idea, other than the observation that most people were writing poems and short stories but nobody was bringing scripts to the meetings so I gave it a shot.

WOW: Sounds like a great group to help inspire someone like yourself. Let's talk about the opposite of being inspired - How do you deal with rejection and what advice do you have for other up and coming authors?

Hugh: I treat rejection as if it’s a negative review. I read through it a few times, take a moment to reflect on it, and then go about my day. Before making a creative piece public it’s important to realize there will be people who hate and criticize it, sometimes in a blunt and offensive manner. It’s just going to happen. There will be times to defend your work, but there will also be times to accept the blows. Agents and publishers are usually busy with other inquiries, so they probably don’t have time to listen to me trying to change their mind. Therefore, rejection letters are times to practice admitting to suffering a setback and finding a way to move on.

WOW: What great advice for a writer at any level.  How do you feel about critique and writing groups?

Hugh: I’ve been going to a critique group weekly for a few years and the people there are the reason I’ve been published. In addition to improving the quality of my writing, they’ve given me advice about marketing and helped me find places to pitch my work. I hadn’t heard of the Southwest Writers until someone in the critique group asked if anyone wanted to go to one of their conferences. I accepted and it was where I met a representative for my current publisher, Golden Word Books.

WOW: Well, I'm glad I asked that question; it may help some of your fellow authors see the benefit of those groups. Thank you for your honesty!

If your book was made into a movie, what song should be played as the title track?

Hugh: I’ve thought about this before because I like listening to music while I’m writing and I’ve settled on theme songs for my main characters. If a movie were to open by introducing Darren, I imaging the song being Clint Eastwood by the Gorillaz. If it opens with Soleil, it would be Watching the Wheels by John Lennon. For Flarence, it would be Pompeii by Bastille.

WOW: As we wrap up our time together today, I simply must know, what's next for you?

Hugh: For the moment I’m working through Mystic Rampage 3, and making revisions to part 2. When this series is finished I plan on writing a more typical fantasy book. It was fun writing about a group of genies in modern-day Chicago, but I have another story about a dragon, a farmer, and a knight in an imaginary kingdom.

WOW: Thank you so much for your time today - I'm sure readers will delight to learn more as they follow you through the tour. We look forward to your tour and future releases!

--- Blog Tour Dates

November 4th @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Join us as we celebrate the launch of the blog tour for author Hugh Fritz’s book Made to be Broken. Read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book.
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

November 5th @ Book Santa Fe with Crystal Otto
Crystal Otto shares her thoughts about the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series - Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz.
http://www.booksantafe.info/booksantafeblog

November 7th @ Bring on Lemons with Carmen Otto
Middle Schooler Carmen Otto raves about the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series – she encourages everyone to read Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz! Find out more today at Bring on Lemons.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

November 8th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles reviews Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz – find out what you’re missing and learn about the first book in the Mystic Rampage series – if you love sci-fi you’ll love this book!
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

November 9th @ World of My Imagination
Learn more about Hugh Fritz and his new book Made to be Broken as he shares a few thoughts in an interesting interview with Nicole Pyles at World of My Imagination.
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

November 15th @ Anjanette Speaks
Anjanette Potter interviews Hugh Fritz as well as reviewing his book Made to be Broken – find out more about the first book of the Mystic Rampage series – now available!
https://bookworm66.wordpress.com/

November 18th @ Breakeven Books
Today’s Book Spotlight at Breakeven Books is Made to be Broken (first book in the Mystic Rampage Series) by Hugh Fritz – don’t miss this great opportunity to add this exciting new novel to your collection!
https://breakevenbooks.com/

November 19th @ To Write or Not To Write
Sreevarsha reviews Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz and delights readers at To Write or Not To Write with her thoughts about this fast-paced novel – it’s the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series – don’t miss this!
http://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.co.at/

November 20th @ A StoryBook World
Don’t miss today’s publicity post at A Storybook World as readers at Dierdra’s blog are introduced to the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series – you’ll want to run out and get your own copy of Hugh Fritz’s Made to be Broken!
http://www.astorybookworld.com/

November 21st @ Lisa Haselton Reviews and Interviews
Lisa Haselton interviews Hugh Fritz about the first novel in the Mystic Rampage series, Made to be Broken. Readers will delight in learning more about this science fiction story with intriguing plot and multiple plot twists!
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

November 22nd @ Look to the Western Sky
Visit Margo's blog today where you can catch today's author spotlight and learn more about Hugh Fritz and his fabulous book Made to be Broken.
https://margoldill.com/

November 26th @ Selling Books
Don’t miss today’s author interview with Hugh Fritz as Cathy Stucker finds out more about his latest release Made to be Broken – the first book in the Mystic Rampage series.
https://www.sellingbooks.com/

November 27th @ Author Anthony Avina
Author Anthony Avina shares his thoughts after reading Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz – don’t miss this review!
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

December 2nd @ Bring on Lemons with Tara Forst
Wisconsinite Tara Forst shares her thoughts after reading the first book in the Mystic Rampage Series – find out more in her book review of Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

December 4th @ Author Anthony Avina
Author Anthony Avina interviews Hugh Fritz about Made to be Broken - the first book of the Mystic Rampage series.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

To win a copy of the book Made to be Broken by R. Hugh Fitz, please enter via Rafflecopter abelow. Giveaway ends on November 11th at 12 AM EST. We will randomly pick a winner and email them the same day. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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2 comments author interview, blog tour, book blog tour, book one, book promotions, book review, book series, book tour, hugh fritz, made to be broken, mystic rampage, sci fi, Science Fiction

Thinking About Series: Books, Movies, Blog Posts, Podcasts and...TV

Recently, Game of Thrones came back after almost a year (I think--I can't keep up) between Season 7 and Season 8 (or Season 7, Part deux--again, I can't keep up). I have watched every single episode, even waiting urgently at times for the next to come out until...this season. I haven't watched a one. I did break down and read some blog posts to see if anyone had died or anything exciting had happened with the characters I love. Most critics seem to think I'm not missing much, except for the Starbucks cup that supposedly ended up in one scene and made it through countless edits. See that photo below.

Courtesy of HBO? It's appeared so many places all over the Internet, but I found it here: https://www.delish.com/food-news/a27372973/game-of-thrones-starbucks-cup/

Anyway, I wondered if my lack of interest was merely that this is a series that has gone on for so long and only airs a few months at a time. Plus, since it's aired, I binged Downton Abbey and The Americans, which I like far better. Wondering about my lack of interest for GOT led me to think about the poll we recently did on social media. On WOW!'s Facebook page, we created a poll asking readers if they preferred a series or a standalone book. Since everyone who writes about book marketing and making money seems to think series are the way to go, it was interesting that STANDALONE books were basically 2 to 1 preferred for readers in our poll, on Twitter and Facebook.

I'm not saying that I don't love a series. I do. But I do find my enthusiasm for a series waning after a while--this has happened to me with books and film/TV, and I don't know if it's because authors/screenwriters try to keep a series going longer than it should or if it's me or if it's a combination of about a million other reasons.

I'm asking myself this as I work on a picture book sequel for Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire: The Case of the Missing Cookies, and as I work on another picture book that is not a series--but has series potential. And as I think about that novel I finished last year that needs to be revised and is currently a standalone. Should I be thinking readers want MORE of the same? I wonder sometimes if I even have series potential in my creative blood.

One thing that several people said in the social media poll and that I've heard about many formats is that if the episode or book or screenplay is well-written, people don't really care that much about series or standalone--they just want something good.

So how about you? As a consumer of stories and a writer, too--do you prefer standalone or series or does it matter?

Margo L. Dill is a writer, speaker, editor, instructor, and mom, living in St. Louis. You can find out more about her writing on her website here, her editing business here, and the classes she teaches for WOW! here. 

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4 comments book marketing, book series, Game of Thrones, Margo L. Dill, series vs standalone, standalone

Friday Speak Out!: The Fantastic Fun of Writing in Series

by Denise Jaden

The title of this post is a bit tongue-in-cheek. You see, I’m about to launch my first series of connected novels, and while there are some elements of writing it that have definitely been enjoyable, I would say it would stretching it to call the process “fun.”

Even if it has been an overwhelming endeavor, I have learned so much about writing and characters and plotting through the process that I don’t regret it. I remember with the first book I published, a mystery, I swore I would never write a mystery again, as I felt my brain was simply not big enough to contain all the important elements. Of course, like the pain of childbirth, I quickly forgot this vow, and soon launched into writing another mystery.

Writing a series was taxing to my brain capacity in the same way, but multiplied by about a hundred. However this time I’m not vowing to never try it again. Instead, I’m focusing on what I’m learning, and what might make the process easier next time. I wanted to share these takeaways, in case they are helpful for others.

1. Make sure you’re working with characters you really love, and that you know them inside and out. Before writing my series, I hadn’t realized how little I had known some of my former characters. With Kass and Eli in my series, I can not only tell you the superficial stuff, like what they eat for breakfast, but also how their biggest wounding in their lives still flavors their speech and actions. Knowing these characters well has helped keep my interest alive through seven books, which is important, because if I lose interest, my readers certainly will. 

2. Use software that will help you keep everything straight. For me, this software is Scrivener. In the past I’ve heard many-a-writer tout the divine and ethereal all-powerful qualities of Scrivener. I had it on my computer, and used it from time to time, but didn’t think it offered much more than my usual writing software, Microsoft Word. When undertaking the task of writing a whole series, though, I found a whole new respect for Scrivener. I can divide my books into sub-folders upon sub-folders, and scenes and chapters, and see at a glance what is in my entire seven books. Not only that, but I can easily look up if I’ve already used a character name in any of the books, or use the project replace feature to quickly replace words or names throughout the entire series. Plus, I can easily format my books, including header images, pretty scene breaks, and small caps at the beginning of chapters, right from the Scrivener Compile tool. As you can tell, I’ve joined Team-Scrivener-Love, but for good reason! 

3. Write out of order, if it helps. I’ve always been a linear writer, writing a novel in order from start to finish. But it seems I often have to rework my beginnings many times after reaching the end, in order to get them right. With a series, I’ve felt more freedom to jump around throughout the different books I had planned, and write scenes as they came to me. This, I think, helped flavor my characters and helped me get to know them in a deep way, so my early chapters of early books hinted at the depth of these characters. This helped to create a thread of growing characterization over time.

Those are a few of my tips for writing series, but because this is my first and I’m by no means an expert, I would LOVE to hear any other thoughts and suggestions of helpful practices. It’s still a little overwhelming for me to even think of trying to embark upon a new series, but I am starting to see how it might be considered fun…some day.

* * *

Denise Jaden’s novels have been shortlisted or received awards through the Romance Writers of America, Inspy, and SCBWI. The first draft of her debut novel, Losing Faith, was written in 21 days during NaNoWriMo 2007 and she loves talking with writers and students alike about her Just-Get-To-The-End fast-drafting process.

Jaden’s other young adult novels include Never Enough, Foreign Exchange, A Christmas Kerril, Avalanche, and Outcast. Her non-fiction books for writers include, Writing with a Heavy Heart, Fast Fiction, and Story Sparks: Finding Your Best Story Ideas and Turning Them into Compelling Fiction.


In her spare time, she homeschools her son, acts with the Vancouver film industry, and dances with a Polynesian dance troupe. Find out more at denisejaden.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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1 comment book series, Character and plot, Characters, Denise Jaden, Friday Speak Out, Scrivener, software, write out of order, writer tips

Why Do We Love a Series?

One of WOW!'s recent blog tour authors, Scott Keen (author of Scar of the Downers), wrote a blog post for my blog titled, "Children's Books that Spoke to me as a Parent/Author." It is an amazing list of books, and he explains WHY he chose each. If you haven't read this post yet, you should if you are a writer of chapter books, middle grade, or young adult.

He made me think about what books I might include on a list like this. But it's so hard to choose because there are so many amazing books in the world--new and old. I agree with him that Harry Potter definitely belongs on my list. Even though I don't write about magical worlds or creatures, J. K. Rowling is a master at characterization and plotting. I can definitely learn from her.

But besides Harry, who might be on most people's lists, I have to say that I loved SERIES books when I was young, and I still do today. (I also realize Harry Potter is a series!) Some of my favorites when I was young: Sweet Valley High, Trixie Belden, MishMash, and Encyclopedia Brown. It's hard for me to remember what I loved so much about them. I constantly begged my parents to purchase the next one from B. Dalton Booksellers (I know--I am really mentioning some old time stuff here now); but I think two things: I loved the main characters, and I liked remaining in the story world where I was already comfortable.

Today, I love Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, and The Hunger Games (series), and Divergent (series).

So how does this relate to my writing? That's a great question, which I was just discussing with my critique group on Monday. I think I need to write a series. I have book one written of a boy detective series for middle-grade readers, which I am workshopping at the end of the month. I have a picture book Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire: The Case of the Missing Cookies, which is just begging for a sequel. And finally what about my YA? I brainstormed and decided I could create a series where each book focused on a different curse, like Caught Between Two Curses includes the Curse of the Billy Goat on the Chicago Cubs.

So what about you? Are you writing a stand-alone or a series? Do you like to read series books? What would be on your list if you made one like Scott's?


Do you have a YA or children's novel draft at home or an idea brewing inside you? Take Margo's "Writing a Children's or YA Novel" online class in the WOW! classroom; starts on April 15! More info here: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/classroom/MargoDill_WritingChildrensOrYoungAdultNovel.php

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5 comments book series, chapter books, favorite authors, Margo L. Dill, writing a middle grade novel, young adult novel

Interview and Giveaway with Gretchen Archer, author of Double Dip

Even though she’s hard at work on the third book in her Davis Way Crime Capers mystery series, Double Strike, and promoting her second book Double Dip author Gretchen Archer found a few moments to give us some advice about writing a series. When she isn’t writing, Gretchen is a Tennessee housewife who lives on Lookout Mountain with her husband, son and a Yorkie named Bentley.

Double Dip


Series: A Davis Way Crime Caper
Paperback: 260 pages
Publisher: Henery Press; 1 edition (January 28, 2014
ISBN-10: 193838394X
ISBN-13: 978-1938383946

Summary:

It’s Davis Way’s first slot-tournament season. And it may be her last.

Things are dicey at work. A personal assistant goes missing, a little old lady goes on a suspicious winning streak, and a Bellissimo executive goes gaga for Davis. She follows a disappearing slot-tournament player trail to the So Help Me God Pentecostal Church in Beehive, Alabama, then jumps headlong into a high stakes holy scandal.

She’s on a losing streak at home, too. Her days, nights, and dinners run together, as Davis juggles a revolving door of uninvited guests, namely her rotten ex-ex-husband, Eddie Crawford. And Bradley Cole thinks three’s a crowd.

The worst? Davis doesn’t feel so hot. Maybe it’s the banana pudding, or maybe it’s a little bundle of something else.

Where to Find Gretchen:

http://gretchenarcher.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gretchen-Archer/477471242273441

@Gretchen_Archer

Interview:

-----by Jodi Webb

WOW: You've just released Double Dip, the second book in your Davis Way Crime Caper series, and are planning on a third book by the end of the year. Is it safe to say that this was conceived as a series or did you decide to turn it into one after the success of your first book Double Whammy?

Gretchen: The Davis Way Crime Capers were always meant to be a series. I’d turned in book two (Double Dip) before book one (Double Whammy) was released, then dove straight into three (Double Strike).

WOW: If a writer is planning (and hoping) that their book will eventually become a series, what do you think is one of the most important things to do when writing that first book to make expansion to a series a success?

Gretchen: Give your character somewhere to go. I started with Davis stepping off the bus—moving from a small town to the big city, an unfamiliar work environment, in a new relationship. I gave myself room for Davis to grow in every area of her life—personal, professional, private.

WOW: It's rare to read a mystery book these days that isn't part of a series. What is it about mystery books that makes them a natural for a series?

Gretchen: As story arcs go, fiction generally follows a path: we meet the characters (Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy), there’s rising action (they hate each other), there’s a climax (actually, he loves her), there’s waning action (she loves him too, and we knew she did), then a conclusion (happily ever after). Mysteries lend themselves to series because elements two, three, and four change every time, where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy can only meet and fall in love once. In a series the core characters become our friends, and we keep reading to see what happens to our friend next.

WOW: We all love revisiting characters as they jump into more adventures. But most of us will never be involved in one murder, not to mention dozens like some series characters. Do you plan to mix up Davis Way's adventures so she isn't always stumbling over dead bodies? Perhaps kidnapping or maybe an Ocean’s 11 heist of the casino's winnings?

Gretchen: Ah, the suspension of disbelief. Read on for all my secrets—right here, right now. I always want Davis to do more than stumble over dead bodies. My series will always feature a casino heist, with a dead body thrown in for flavor. In addition, Davis has been in jail and poisoned, so I write her diving headlong into the thick of it, not just a lucky or brilliant problem solver. Actually, Davis is neither lucky nor brilliant. A theme I’d like to tackle is a Bellissimo Casino Ocean’s 11-style heist during a hurricane. I’m in the middle of writing a kidnapping at this very minute, but you’ll have to read DOUBLE STRIKE to find out who and why.

WOW: As the writer of a series how will you keep it fresh, so readers never feel like they're reading the same book?

Gretchen: I hope Davis’s personal life and the ever-changing gambling world will keep readers coming back.

WOW: The main character in your Davis Way Crime Caper series is on the security team of a casino. So tell, was this a case of "write what you know"? Are you a gambler who knows all the ins and out of casinos? If not, what made you choose a casino as your series' "hook" and tell us about the research you did to get all the details correct.

Gretchen: I’ll attempt the short answer. Start the music if I go too long.

I’d never set foot in a casino until my husband took me to one for my fortieth birthday. I spent my birthday entertaining four teenagers and a baby in a stroller while he played blackjack. Happy 40th. To keep me from jumping off the roof, my husband handed me $200. He said, “Go to the casino. Have fun.” I won $8,000. By the end of the trip, I’d won $40,000. All on slot machines. Beginner’s luck? I don’t know. The crowd, their devotion, their tirelessness, their recklessness (with money), amazed me.

I did a little research. Every single American lives within a three-hour drive of a land-based casino. Total consumer spending at commercial casinos in 2012 was $37.34 billion. (American Gaming Association.) That’s a huge market to write to. Huge.

I’m no industry insider by any stretch of the imagination, which is why I needed Davis to be a novice gambler at the start of the series. We’ve learned together. I read a lot, go to casinos at least three or four times a year, and I have a great wingman, Deke Castleman, who lives and writes in Vegas, and who’s always available for questions like, “When do they empty the money out of the slot machines?” and “Where is the vault and who has access to it?” It helps that the Bellissimo Resort and Casino is fictional, allowing me to take terrible casino liberties.

WOW: On The Muffin we've often debated being a "pantser" writer vs a "planner" writer. How possible is it as a mystery writer to be a "pantser" and just follow wherever your characters lead? Doesn't there have to be some sort of plan? Do you start a book knowing exactly how it's going to go, who will be the criminal, who will be the red herring, the clues or can you just let it unfold?

Gretchen: I start with two well-planned elements: what will happen in Davis’s personal life and the casino scam to be featured. I guess that makes me a “planster”. I have a plan, but the plan could fit on a dinner napkin. I know writers who talk about their characters surprising them at every turn, and when I’ve written “pantser”, without fail, I’ve junked it. I know writers whose pre-manuscript notes run in the tens of thousands of words, but that isn’t me either. I suppose I’m on the fence, such a very uncomfortable position. As the Davis Way series grows, more and more I’m asked to provide thumbnails for future work, and I’ve been forced to be more efficient with my time, so more and more, I’m a “planner” writer.

WOW: How did you get started writing? What made you settle on mystery writing as your genre?

Gretchen: I still have my Nancy Drew collection from childhood. I’ve always loved mysteries, and mystery series specifically. Oddly enough, though, I wrote four stand-alone commercial fiction manuscripts before I started the Davis Way series. It wasn’t until I realized I might be writing what I knew, but not what I loved, that I was finally published.

Note to Gretchen's followers: Seems Gretchen's fans are eager to follow WOW on Facebook. You can find our Facebook page here.

Giveaway:

Thanks to Gretchen, one luck reader will win a copy of the first two books in the Davis Way Crime Caper series: Double Whammy and Double Dip. Just enter the Rafflecopter form below to be entered in the drawing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Jodi Webb is still toiling away at her writing in between a full-time job, a full-time family and work as a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing. Right now she's looking for blogs to promote Theresa Walsh's novel The Moon Sisters and Sue William Silverman's memoir The Pat Boone Fan Club. You can contact her at jodi@wow-womenonwriting.com. For Jodi's take on reading and writing (no 'rithmetic please!) stop by her blog Words by Webb.

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9 comments book series, Double Dip, giveaway, Gretchen Archer, mystery

Friday Speak Out!: Writing With Family - All of Them, Guest Post by C. Hope Clark

Blogs and forums abound with discussions from mommy writers about how to address the urchins that run around interfering with our journeys toward bestseller-dom. Of course we love the brats. No questioning that at all. Like kittens, they’re cute and can’t help themselves. We write around them, knowing one day they’ll grow up and allow us more time to create.

But what do you do when they are in their twenties and still in the way? And what about parents? Sisters, uncles and cousins? Once you publish a book or two, invariably your predecessors, successors, as well as those on the odd bent branches of the family tree, get in your way. And they are not as forgivable as kittens.

When I released Lowcountry Bribe, the first in my Carolina Slade Mystery Series, family and friends devoured the book, pointing out which character was which relation, enjoying the inside joke they thought they knew. (Except for my mother, who ordered me never to write about her.) My son asked why I made him a girl. The assumption was I had to be the protagonist and my husband the romantic interest. They pointed out “errors” in the story, telling me my children were never kidnapped, so why put that in the book? I developed a list of one-liners in response to these reactions, the main one being, “It’s fiction, people. That means pretend.” They’d roll their eyes as if they knew better.

When Tidewater Murder came out a year later, they quizzically scratched their heads. “Who is this?” they’d ask. “When did this happen?” Only one new character went into that book with a slight resemblance to a dear friend, a friend who’d challenged me to include him. The story was the purest fiction I’d ever written. “What?” they asked. “What fun is that?” “You sure this isn’t (FILL IN BLANK) from Mississippi?”

The public, and therefore our relatives, think every tale of fiction is rooted in reality, and some instances probably are. We use our experiences as catalysts. But we avoid the use of clones, resumes, and biographies taken from our family tree for obvious reasons . . . hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and the potential for misrepresentation. But what is it about family fearing they are, yet wanting to be, subjects in a book?

Maybe it’s that desire for the proverbial 15-minutes of fame. Maybe it’s a way of feeling honored by being blood-kin to a famous author (tongue-in-cheek there). Maybe they can’t let loose of reality to spin fable, and don’t understand those who do.

Palmetto Poison is Slade’s third story, and this time she is full-bore investigating the most complex case of her life. Enter her boyfriend, his ex-wife (also an agent), his sister, Slade’s sister, kids, and a complete family feuding cornucopia of families she investigates for murder, drugs, and political favors.

My family won’t know what hit them.

* * *

C. Hope Clark is editor of FundsforWriters.com, reaching 45,000 readers each Friday with her online newsletters. The website has been chosen by Writer's Digest for its 101 Best Websites for Writers for the past 13 years. But Hope's personal bucket list included publishing mystery fiction. She's the author of The Carolina Slade Mystery Series, with the third, Palmetto Poison, just released through Bell Bridge Books. Available wherever books are sold. www.chopeclark.com / www.fundsforwriters.com
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

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7 comments book series, C. Hope Clark, family relationships, Friday Speak Out, novel writing

Writing the Fiction Series: The Complete Guide For Novels and Novellas by Karen S. Wiesner (Review and Giveaway)

I'm so glad that I have the chance to review Karen Wiesner's new writing guide book, Writing the Fiction Series: The Complete Guide For Novels and Novellas, because I am currently writing book one of a middle-grade mystery series. As Karen says in her introduction, "A better question might be who isn't reading, writing, and publishing a series?" which means that many of you are also probably writing a series—for children or seniors or everyone in-between. Readers love series! So, how will Karen's book help you?

First off, it's a well-researched study on successful series, and it covers multiple genres. I'm thankful for all the series mentions that Karen lists and explains in her book because she provides concrete examples that I can use when thinking about my own series and what I want it to become. For example, in my imagination, my middle-grade mystery series will have the same main character and his family members/friends in each book, and each story will solve a complete mystery. It's different than the Harry Potter series because readers won't have to read book seven to find out the ending to Patrick's (my main characters) story. However, I will still have to be consistent and have him develop through the books. So when Karen discusses "Recurring Character" series, I made notes because it's important to know what I'm writing and find other examples out there. I'm not creating a premise/plot series or a setting series, but now I have even more ideas brewing for other series after reading this chapter!

After you know what you're writing or want to, Karen delves into how to write it. Chapters two, three, and four help with this. If I was to tell you all the useful tips in these chapters, this blog post would go on and on and on. She helps you with your individual story and series arc, develop characters who can stand the test of a series, stay consistent in your series (you will need a series bible!), and how to organize yourself and your series. When I finish the second draft of my book this summer and my critique group gets finished giving me their notes, I plan to use SEVERAL of the tips in chapter four to keep myself organized—believe me, I need it. I'll use tips, such as the series organization worksheets—I'm going to fill one out before I ever start querying this book, ideas for my series bible, and creating maps of my fictional town (and even individual story places such as Grandma's house and Patrick's school).

The other thing this book will do for you (and I've mentioned this a bit already) is give you some ideas that you might not have thought of on your own. I love the idea of a "cameo appearance," which is an idea provided by an author Karen interviewed, Linda Varner Palmer. Linda stated, "Give evidence that the happy endings in earlier books are still in effect, i.e., characters show up in later books and are doing well." I'm already thinking about how Abby in my first book can show up in a later book . . .

At the end of each chapter, writers will find "build your series muscles exercises," which are call-to-action activities and writing prompts for you to do with your own series. In a nutshell, these should force you to work on your series while you are also using this book.

If you already have a series, this book is still useful to you because it can help with marketing your series (chapter 5), including creating your brand, and preparing for the conclusion of a series (chapter 6). Appendix A provides blank worksheets to use on a new or existing series to help with consistency and writing. Appendix B provides case studies of successful series from Twilight to Debbie Macomber's Dakota series to Terry Brooks The Heritage of Shannara. She also takes the seven Harry Potter books and shows authors the overall series arcs, the individual book arcs, and the series plant arcs for each book. This is an incredible resource!

I highly recommend Writing the Fiction Series by Karen Wiesner for anyone writing or considering writing a series! (You can also find more details and resources on Karen's site.)

Margo L. Dill is a children's author and writing instructor for WOW! Women On Writing. To find out more about Margo and her books, visit her website at: http://www.margodill.com.

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

We are giving away a copy of Writing the Fiction Series: The Complete Guide For Novels and Novellas (Writer's Digest Books, May 30, 2013) by Karen Wiesner. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win!

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Good luck!

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20 comments book review, book series, fiction writing, Karen Wiesner, Margo L. Dill, novel writing tips, writing a series

Jadie Jones, author of Moonlit, launches her blog tour!

To most, Tanzy Hightower looks like she has a great life for an eighteen-year-old. She spends her days on Wildwood Farm surrounded by horses and fellow horse lovers. Of course most people don't know about the mysterious shadowy beings lurking on the outskirts of her life. Tanzy isn't sure if they're real or if her eyes are just playing tricks on her until she realizes the horses see the mysterious beings too. And not only do they see then but they're afraid of them.

Moonlit is the story of Tanzy trying to unravel all the secrets of her life. Who are the mysterious beings? Was her accident really an accident? Are her new friends really friends . . . or something more nefarious? How does an ancient warrior end up in horse country?

If you’re still compiling your Summer Reading List save room for Jadie Jones' debut YA fantasy Moonlit.

The first book in the Tanzy Hightower series will leave you haunting Jadie Jones’ website, wanting to learn when the next book in the series will be released. Follow Jadie’s Tweet Tour @WOWBlogTour and @womenonwriting throughout June and you just might learn the release date and other fun info about Book 2!

Paperback: 310 pages (also available in e-format)

Publisher: WiDo Publishing (April 16, 2013)

ISBN-10: 1937178331

ISBN-13: 978-1937178338

Twitter hashtag: #Moonlit

Moonlit is available as a print and e-book at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Book Giveaway Contest:

To win a copy of Moonlit, stop by The Muffin on Wednesday, May 15 when we’ll be posting a review of Moonlit and starting our giveaway contest!

About the Author:

Jadie Jones has been dreaming about being an author since she wrote her first book in the seventh grade—in a black and white composition tablet, of course. But life happens . . . jobs, husband, baby. Jadie has that magical time known as naptime to thank for Moonlit. Because, when all was quiet in the house (with the exception of the washer humming in the background) Jadie could hear Tanzy, who she thought she had long ago relegated to past dreams, calling to her. And one day Jadie pulled out a pen and answered. The result was Moonlit.

When she isn’t writing, Jadie likes to ride horses and explore the world with her beautiful toddler.

Find out more about the author by visiting her online:

Jadie Jones’ website: www.jadiejones.com

Jadie's blog:  www.jadiejones.blogspot.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jadiejones1

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jadie.jones.5

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jadiejones1

-----Interview by Jodi Webb

WOW: The main character of your debut YA fantasy novel, eighteen year old Tanzy Hightower is an incredibly strong character. She has secrets, a mysterious past, a willingness to jump into life. I've been wondering . . . which came first Tanzy or the idea for the novel Moonlit?

JADIE: In a way, both. This might sound a little certifiable, but Tanzy’s voice has been in my head for years. When you work long hours—usually solo—on a horse farm, and you have an overactive imagination . . . let’s just say the possibilities are endless. I’m inspired by women who stand up for themselves and for what is right. The “origin” part of Moonlit actually came to me in a dream. I’d had a bad spill off a horse (not a dream) and gave myself a pretty good concussion. That night, with lots of medicine on board, I had this dream about sexy, shirtless, Greek-god looking men marching in an underground cellar. They guarded a group of girls imprisoned there, but I had the distinct impression that the guards were afraid of what the girls could do should they escape. I also had a clear feeling that I was looking for who I used to be. I woke up and thought: man that would be an amazing story . . . now how do I get the savvy, farm-girl in my head to an underground prison in ancient Egypt?

WOW: It does seem like an unlikely combination! And since it was such an unusual story did you do a lot of planning before you began writing? Since you were thinking series, did you outline the plot for the first few books just to see where your characters would be going or did you just see where the writing would take you?

JADIE: Not entirely. As I wrote Moonlit, I kind of knew where I wanted to go in the sequel. But, until I made final edits on Moonlit for my publisher, I had no idea what would happen in the third book. Now I have a pretty clear idea of what goals I want to accomplish with the third book, and I know as I refine the sequel, the arch of the third book will become clearer. I make loose outlines when I’m feeling overwhelmed or stuck. I am big on writing the first draft (or parts of it) with pen and paper. It helps me think better. As it stands now, I know the very last paragraph in the very last book. We will see if it survives the sequel!

WOW: You just never know what’s going to happen, do you? Do you have any advice for those hoping to create a series?

JADIE: I find that a strong character is most important, and if you turn them loose, will take your stories places you could never have imagined on your own. I had a completely different ending planned for Moonlit, but Tanzy wasn’t happy with it. When I finally let her show me how she thought things should shake out, it was amazing, organic, and it changed everything about the sequel.

I would advise holding off on fleshing out a sequel until the final content edits have been made on the first book. My editor and I cut an entire character, who I’d planned on making a big part of the sequel, but he drug down every scene he entered in Moonlit. A tentative outline, or “roadmap,” as I like to call it, is a great guide to make sure you have all the details you need in place for the sequel in the first book without wasting time/energy on a lot of copy you may cut.

WOW: What is the most appealing thing about writing in the fantasy genre and what made you begin writing it now?

JADIE: Fantasy is so fun because anything is possible. If you can create it in your brain, you can bring it to life, and that is so appealing.

And honestly, I think writing Moonlit may have saved my life—or at least my sanity. Following the birth of my daughter, I slowly fell down the rabbit hole of postpartum anxiety, which I didn’t even know was something that could happen. I wouldn’t let people come over to the house or hold my daughter. I stopped leaving the house all together. My mother and husband confronted me when my daughter was about seven months old. Once I was willing to acknowledge there was a problem, I had some work to do. I didn’t want to take medication for it (not that I don’t believe in it—it’s just didn’t feel like the right choice for me) so I had to learn how to talk myself off the ledge.

Writing was a huge part of my recovery process, and gave me back a sense of control that I’d completely lost. I’ve always had an overactive imagination, so re-learning how to use that power for creation instead of paranoia made a world of difference. I’ve always had a passion for writing, but lacked the confidence and tenacity it often takes to get an idea from brain to paper to publisher. Once this story took root in my head, it would not let me ignore it.

WOW: What an incredible aspect to your writing life! In Moonlit, you combine our reality with another world and characters who can move back and forth between the two worlds. What was it like to develop a new world and "rules" that allowed characters to exist in both worlds? Confusing? Fun?

JADIE: The rules are the brick and mortar of the new world—like the rules of a board game. You can’t play without them. And the same idea applies: the simpler the rules are to follow, the easier it is to use and communicate them. I think the rules also have to be pretty rock solid, especially in a world that has always existed—as have its inhabitants.

These Unseen creatures have been around since the beginning of the world, so if my human characters find a flaw or loophole in the rules that the immortals never discovered, that seems a bit contrived. Building the rules for the Unseen world was one of my favorite parts. I relate it to excavating a dinosaur skeleton—just keep digging and brushing away the debris until the bones come to the surface. The rules are explored further in the sequel, and as they become more detailed, I have to be careful not to make them confusing.

WOW: This is your first book, tell us a little about the marketing you're doing . . . are you active in social media?

JADIE: I am trying to be as active as possible! The online author/reviewer/reader community is a passionate, helpful, enthusiastic group to be a part of. It’s all about give and take—you have to be willing and eager to help other authors, etc., or you can’t expect them to jump when you need a favor. I think writers who aren’t willing to be a part of this process may miss out on some great opportunities—not just for promotion but also for education. I have learned so much by participating in events for other authors. I even had a brief chat with one of my very favorite authors, which was immediately followed by a happy dance in my office.

WOW: And we always like to hear about small presses. Tell us how you found Wido Publishing and what you like about them.

JADIE: I found Wido on querytracker.net. I’d decided to query small publishers directly because I prefer one-on-one relationships and the idea of waiting for information to pass through a second party was more than my impatient self could take.

I have to say, I feel like I won the publisher lottery. My experience has been positive, educational, and thorough. I was immediately paired with a content editor, who helped me explore some holes in my plot and tighten my pacing. She also helped me discover some things about my story and my writing that I hadn’t noticed before. After that, Moonlit went on to several copy editors and then two rounds of galley proofs. Everyone I worked with was professional and enthusiastic. They were patient and receptive when I had constructive things to say as well, which speaks volumes in my book. I also admire that they don’t believe in a formula. They just want good, well-told stories. And don’t we all?

WOW: And a good, well-told story is what readers will find in Moonlit. Finally, as always, we want to hear what you're up to now!

JADIE: Right now I am riding the wave of Moonlit’s release—scheduling signings and events, networking, interviewing, and promoting. I’m also revising the sequel to prepare it for submission to WiDo.

On another note, I’ve taken on a project horse. Riding helps me sort out plot tangles, etc. And I spend a lot of time exploring with my now two year old. I am having the time of my life.

----------Blog Tour Dates

Monday, April 29 (today!) @ The Muffin
Stop by for an inspiring interview with author Jadie Jones!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Tuesday, April 30 @ Thoughts in Progress
Jadie Jones, author of Moonlit—a YA book that features the state of Georgia—writes about that beautiful place today.
http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 1 @ Bookworm Lisa
Enter to win Moonlit, the debut YA fantasy by Jadie Jones. Horse, handsome strangers and mysterious secrets . . . what more could you want?
http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/

Thursday, May 2 @ Fantasy Book Addict
Stop by for an interview with author Jadie Jones and a chance to win her debut fantasy novel, Moonlit.
http://www.fantasybookaddict.com/

Saturday, May 4 @ CMash Loves to Read
Don't miss a chance to dive into a world of horses, magic, and mystery with the new YA Fantasy Moonlit by Jadie Jones. Win your copy today!
http://cmashlovestoread.com/

Wednesday, May 8 @ Musings from the Slushpile
Learn which Fantasy Authors are Jadie Jones' favorites and enter to win her debut YA Fantasy: Moonlit.
http://blog.juliealindsey.com/

Thursday, May 9 @ Read These Books and Use Them!
Don't miss a chance to learn more about debut author Jadie Jones and enter to win her YA fantasy Moonlit.
http://margodill.com/blog/

Wednesday, May 15 @ The Muffin
Don't miss today's review and giveaway of Moonlit by Jadie Jones.
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Thursday, May 16 @ Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life
Learn more about Jadie Jones, the author behind the Tanzy Hightower series in today's guest post.
http://love2readalways.blogspot.com/

Thursday, May 23 @ Words by Webb
Learn how Jadie Jones, author of Moonlit, balances family and writing.
http://jodiwebb.com

Monday, May 27 @ Steph the Bookworm
Tell us if you think YA is just for teens and learn what YA author Jadie Jones has to say. You can also enjoy a review of Jadie's YA fantasy Moonlit.
http://www.stephthebookworm.com/

Tuesday, May 28 @ Reviewing in Chaos
Don't miss a chance to learn more about debut author Jadie Jones and enter to win her YA fantasy Moonlit.
http://reviewinginchaos.blogspot.com

We have more dates to come! To view all our touring authors, check out our Events Calendar. Keep up with blog stops and giveaways in real time by following us on Twitter @WOWBlogTour.

Get Involved! If you have a website or blog and would like to host one of our touring authors or schedule a tour of your own, please email us at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.

Book Giveaway Contest: Stop back by The Muffin on Wednesday, May 15 and enter to win a copy of Moonlit!

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7 comments blog tour, book series, fantasy, Independent publishers, Jadie Jones, Moonlit, New Adult, small press, YA

Karen Berner, author of Until My Soul Gets It Right, launches her book tour

& book giveaway contest!

Have you ever looked around at your home, your family, your life and wondered “Really? This is me?” What happened to that person who was going to live in a penthouse in New York City? Travel to the Arctic Circle? Save the world? We’ve all had those moments where we wonder if we’ve stumbled into the wrong life.

Of course, Catherine Ebert of Until My Soul Gets It Right has the moments more frequently than most of us. In fact, every time something goes wrong in her life she looks around and decides it’s time to move on to the next town, the next life, the next re-creation of herself.

Don’t miss the latest book in the Bibliophiles Series that follows Catherine, the actress of the group, as she searches for her real life.

Paperback: 294 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (May 23, 2012)
Genre: Fiction
ISBN-10: 1475189036
ISBN-13: 978-1475189032
Twitter Hashtag: #Bibliophiles2

Until My Soul Gets It Right is available in paperback and e-format at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and your local independent bookstore.

Book Giveaway Contests: If you would like to win a copy of Until My Soul Gets It Right, please enter the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post. The giveaway contest closes this Friday, September 21 at 12:01 AM EST. We will announce the winner the same day in the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

Book Giveaway Contest–Part Two: If you would like to win a copy of the Book One in the Bibliophiles Series: A Whisper to a Scream, visit Karen’s blog Bibliophilic Blather on Tuesday, September 18 for more details.

About the Author:

Karen Wojcik Berner lives a provincial life tucked away with her family in the Chicago suburbs. If it was good enough for Jane Austen, right?

However, dear Miss Austen had the good fortune of being born amid the glorious English countryside, something Karen unabashedly covets, so much so that she majored in English and Communications at Dominican University. Like the magnificent Miss Austen, Karen could not help but write about the society that surrounds her.

A book lover since she could hold one in her chubby little toddler hands, Karen wanted to announce to the world just how much she loves the written word. She considered getting a bibliophile tattoo but instead decided to write about the lives of the members of a suburban Classics Book Club. The series is called, of course, The Bibliophiles.

When she isn't reading, writing, or spending her time wishing she was Jane Austen, Karen spends her time can be found sipping tea or wine, whichever is more appropriate that day, and watching Tim Burton movies or "Chopped," her favorite foodie TV show.

Find the Author Online:

Website: http://www.karenberner.com/

Blog: http://karenwojcikberner.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Whisper-to-a-Scream-by-Karen-Berner/299878283817

Twitter: @KarenBerner

---------Interview by Jodi Webb

WOW: We’re curious about how your series evolved. Why did you decide to create a series?

Karen: I couldn’t help myself. With each book club scene I wrote for A Whisper to a Scream (The Bibliophiles: Book One), I fell more in love with each of the members and wanted to know more about them. They intrigued me. I had to write their stories.

WOW: Did you plot out several books at once so you could “see where your characters were going” or take it one book at a time?

Karen: I am taking everything one book at a time. I’m not one of those people that plots out everything that will happen ahead of time. I like to let it flow, which is kind of funny, because in my personal life, people think I am pretty anal. I’m the type that plans out an entire trip before I get there, including two sets of driving directions and a trip folder with copies of everything from hotel confirmations to the impending weather forecasts.

WOW: I'd love for you to plan my next trip! (smiles)  So what is it like to create a series?

Karen: It’s fantastic. Once I figured out this could be a series, I set out to make it a little different than most. Consequently, although there will be book club scenes in each novel, the protagonists change, giving each story a very different feel. It is the best of both worlds, writing six distinct books but joining them together under the Bibliophiles umbrella.

WOW: Unlike most series that revisit not only the same characters but also the same setting Until My Soul Gets It Right takes place somewhere completely different, in fact in several spots around the country. How did you choose the places where Catherine would grow up and transplant herself throughout her life? Were they places that are significant to you and, if not, how did you create such amazingly vivid settings?

Karen: My mother spent a few summers on a farm in Hayward, Wisconsin. She absolutely loved it. Riding horses. Doing farm chores. For me, nothing sounded more terrible. I’m a city girl who still has some urban withdrawal living in the suburbs. How does anyone do errands, for example, when the nearest shopping is twenty miles away? I’m a wuss, truth be told, with no understanding of how to live off the land, but with a great appreciation for those who do. Having Catherine grow up on a farm felt right.

As for the other locations, several years back, I went to Maine on a family vacation and visited with friends who live on Peaks Island. Portland is a great place and completely different from the Midwest. And San Diego? Who wouldn’t want to live there? Perfect weather. Gorgeous scenery. Koalas!

While writing the different sections, I had maps of each city sprawled across my desk to ensure I got the locations right. I plotted all of the fictional locations on the real Portland map. Although it is fiction, it’s still important to stay true to some sense of place. Same goes for the San Diego chapters. Books, pictures of the zoo and a map of the area helped me to recreate the feeling of being there. I also wrote a few scenes while I was on the beach in front of the Hotel del Coronado a few years ago.

WOW: You definitely did your research, and it helps ground readers with a strong sense of place. I'm wondering . . . Do you feel readers get more involved with your characters when they are in a series of books? On the flip side, do you ever worry that readers might write you those maddening “Character X would never have done that!” type of letters?

Karen: I hope readers will grow to love the Bibliophiles as much as I do. I don’t worry about the types of letters you mentioned, but I can tell you that when I was doing an appearance at a local book club, one woman basically started yelling at me about why I didn’t get therapy for Annie in A Whisper to a Scream (The Bibliophiles: Book One), which I found interesting. I was happy she cared so much about the character to have such a strong opinion.

WOW: Some people have a love/hate relationship with book series. They love following their favorite characters on adventure after adventure but they hate jumping into a series in the middle. Have you experienced the positives of series (readers clamoring for your next book) or the negatives (readers saying, “Well, since I didn’t read the first book I’ll pass.”)

Karen: Most readers have been very kind and are excited about the upcoming books. That said, each Bibliophiles novel can be read as a stand alone as well as within the series. I think that is important. I realize series require a huge time commitment for readers, so with mine, they can pick and choose which they find interesting.

Also, for those who prefer to start at the beginning, I am hosting a contest on my blog Bibliophilic Blather to win free copies of the first novel, A Whisper to a Scream. Visit http://karenwojcikberner.blogspot.com/ for details.

WOW: Recently on the Muffin, various bloggers have been posting about writing habits. Can you tell us a little about your writing day? How do you keep yourself motivated when you hit a brick wall or the demands of your non-writing life seem to take over?

Karen: I don’t have a set schedule. Some days, I concentrate exclusively on the books, while others are spent soliciting for flash fiction pieces for Flash Fiction Fridays on my blog, Bibliophilic Blather, or writing the week’s blog posts. Still other days are all about my freelance account and/or marketing. Then there are those glorious days when the muses visit, and I drop everything for fiction. Those are the most fun.

No matter what is on the agenda, the day begins right after my youngest leaves for school and continues until dinner, with periodic breaks for football carpool, a Starbucks run or texting my oldest in college. Oh yeah, and the weekends. I usually work some then as well.

I am really striving to achieve some sort of work/life balance, which is a bit easier now that my sons are older. I think it is something all women battle every day, don’t you think?

WOW: Definitely, it seems no matter what our passion, our job, our family life we have so many things vying for our attention and our time. So, for those of us still laboring over our first book, does it get any easier?

Karen: I hesitate to say writing the second book was easier, but it was definitely a lot quicker, despite the countless hours I wasted in fits of neurosis with second-book syndrome. You know, doubt, despair, what the heck was I thinking? Repeat.

Once I finished, there was a great sense of relief. The monkey was off my back, and I was ready to write more. I penned my upcoming holiday short story, “A Bibliophiles’ Christmas” (due out November 1) featuring Sarah and Annie from Whisper and began notes for book three.

WOW: What was the most important thing you learned while writing the Bibliophiles Series?

Karen: So much of writing is listening. Listening to the world around us. Listening to the characters as they reveal themselves to you. Listening to their speech patterns, side comments, their beliefs. Letting the characters tell their stories.

Although I write in third person, I am by no means the great and powerful Oz-like omniscient. Sometimes, I start one scene, get into a flow and finish on an entirely different track.

WOW: Bibliophiles isn’t your traditional series with one main character and a group of quirky minor characters. Instead it’s about a group—a book club—and in each book a different member plays the starring role. Can you tell us who will be getting the star treatment in the next book?

Karen: Book Three will focus on Spring, the daughter of leftover flower children from the sixties, and Thaddeus, the computer programmer with the heart of a poet. It should be a fun juxtaposition of writing styles between the mellow, chilled vibe of Spring and the prim, anglophile Thaddeus. Another exciting thing about this novel is that it will be my first time writing a male protagonist. Work on it has already begun, but I am not sure when it will be released yet. Hopefully around this time next year, but we shall see how it goes.

WOW: It sounds fun, and we can’t wait to hear about the challenges of writing for a male character!

---------Blog Tour Dates

Tuesday, September 18 @ Bibliophilic Blather

Stop by Karen’s blog to learn how to win the first book in the Bibliophiles Series!
http://karenwojcikberner.blogspot.com/


Wednesday, September 19 @ A Writer’s Life
Learn more about Karen Berner and the second book in her Bibiliophiles series today.
http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com

Friday, September 21 @ Book Spark
Try your hand at a quiz on Shakespeare—a favorite of Catherine, the main character of Until My Soul Gets It Right by Karen Berner. Then enter to win a copy of this can't-put-it-down novel!
http://book-spark.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, September 25 @ Empty Nest
Don't miss today's review of Until My Soul Gets It Right, book two in the Bibliophiles Series by Karen Berner.
http://emptynest1.blogspot.com

Wednesday, September 26 @ Musings from the Slushpile
In the mood for a Bibliophile's Tour of Chicago? Join us for today's tour with author Karen Berner as your guide. You can also win a copy of Berner's novel Until My Soul Gets It Right.
http://blog.juliealindsey.com/

Thursday, September 27 @ Donna’s Book Pub
When the going gets tough, the tough get going...at least that's the motto of the latest star of the Bibliophiles Series by Karen Berner. Don't miss a review of Until My Soul Gets it Right.
http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com

Friday, September 28 @ CMash Loves to Read
Have some fun today when Karen Berner tells you how to "Be a Character: Dressing Up Like Your Favorite Literary Hero/Heroine" Don't miss out a chance to win Karen's latest book, Until My Soul Gets It Right.
http://cmashlovestoread.com/

Sunday, September 30 @ Fresh Fiction
Stop by for a bit of Shakespeare from Karen Berner's latest character and a chance to win her latest book: Until My Soul Gets It Right.
http://freshfiction.com

Tuesday, October 2 @ Thoughts in Progress
Learn how to organize your own classics book club and enter to win Until My Soul Gets It Right, Book Two in Karen Berner's series The Bibliophiles.
http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, October 4 @ Words by Webb
Stop by for thoughts on a new kind of book series and a chance to win A Whisper to a Scream by Karen Berner.
http://jodiwebb.com

Thursday, October 4 @ Kerrific
Get the scoop on the second book in Karen Berner's Bibliophiles series: Until My Soul Gets It Right with today's review.
http://kerrificonline.blogspot.com

Friday, October 5 @ Kritters Ramblings
Can Karen Berner follow up the success of her debut novel A Whisper to a Scream with her new novel Until My Soul Gets It Right? You bet! Don't miss today's review!
http://www.krittersramblings.com/

Saturday, October 6 @ Kritters Ramblings
Can’t get enough of Karen Berner. To celebrate Book Two in the Bibliophiles Series she’s back for Day Two at Kritters Ramblings with a guest post.
http://www.krittersramblings.com/

Sunday, October 7 @ Writer Unboxed
Looking for some extra fun this Halloween? Author Karen Berner has some ideas for throwing a Literary Halloween Bash. And if you hate coming in after the first act this is your chance to win BOTH books in Karen's Bibliophile Series and meet all her characters from the very beginning.
http://writerunboxed.com/

Monday, October 8 @ Melissa’s Midnight Musings
Melissa's getting in the mood for Karen Berner's tour with her latest book by reviewing her first book: A Whisper to a Scream. Come back Wednesday for Until My Soul Gets It Right.
http://midnight-orchids.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, October 9 @ Lovey Dovey Books
Learn how to organize your own classic book club and learn more about Karen Berner's new addition to the Bibliophiles series: Until My Soul Gets It Right.
http://www.loveydoveybooks.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 10 @ Melissa’s Midnight Musings
If you threw Halloween and literature in a pot and stirred, what would you get? Stop by and find out with a fun guest post from Karen Berner, author of the novel Until My Soul Gets It Right.
http://midnight-orchids.blogspot.com/

Thursday, October 11 @ Celtic Lady Reviews
Don't miss a visit from the author of the Bibliophile Series, Karen Berner!
http://www.celticladysreviews.blogspot.com

Friday, October 12 @ Writer’s Corner
You don't even need a ticket for today's journey! Karen Berner, author of Until My Soul Gets It Right is taking everyone on a Bibliophile's Guide to Portland Maine.
http://www.jenceywrites.blogspot.com

To view all our touring authors, check out our Events Calendar here. Keep up with blog stops and giveaways in real time by following us on Twitter @WOWBlogTour.

Get Involved!
If you have a website or blog and would like to host one of our touring authors or schedule a tour of your own, please email us at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.

Book Giveaway Contest: Enter to win a copy of Until My Soul Gets It Right! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. We will announce the winner in the Rafflecopter widget this Friday, September 21.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!

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15 comments A Whisper to a Scream, blog tour, book series, Karen Berner, novel, The Bibliophiles, Until My Soul Gets It Right