K Celeste is here only one more day! Come Talk!

Advice for aspiring writers – Three words: Patience, Perseverance and Politeness.
The one word I would eliminate from the English Language is – ABUSE (in any form)
My family and friends are very supportive of my writing and have read everything I’ve written. They’re eager to offer suggestions and commentary and many times they have been spot on. Outsiders see things writers miss or don’t see in their own work.

19. What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? What made you think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’

When my youngest son was ten, he became fascinated with Native American lore, particularly Cheyenne dog soldiers. We checked out everything from the library pertaining to the subject and I listened for hour upon hour about their customs, their beliefs and . . . their brutality, courage and honor. At some point, I figured, hey, I should put all those hours to good use and write a book about the Dog Soldiers, thus Where The Rain Is Made.

19. If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who
would it be? And Why?

Harper Lee. I’d pick her brain and find out just how in heck she created Jem, Scout and Atticus. What a marvelous writer. The first time I read To Kill A Mockingbird, I could feel my trousers scrape along that barbed fence, smell the hot, southern air and taste the prejudice. I knew then I would be a writer one day.

20. What is your all time favorite book?

Two, and they are entirely different. One I mentioned above and the other good old standby I read over and over is a romance from the 1980’s called Windflower by a husband and wife team called Laura London. So many times I’ve been reading that book in the middle of the night and laughing. Again, their scenes are so descriptive and I feel as though I’m there, digging out the sea water in the small skiff so I don’t drown. Today, their writing would probably not be acceptable – too much purple prose, but what an experience to read the way they write.

21. What advice would you give aspiring writers today?

Be patient, persevere and pay attention to everything in the market. Listen to your gut while you’re writing. Pretend the character is standing over your shoulder. Ask, would he really say that? Would she really do that? You’ll know the answer.

Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed it. From now until the end of February, I’m hosting a contest. Go to my web site and e-mail me the name of the heroine from Sojourn With A Stranger (subject of e-mail should say “Contest”). On March 1st, I’ll draw a winner for a free download of your choice.
I hope you enjoy my new releases.


Happy reading!
K. Celeste Bryan
kcelestebryan@aol.com
http://www.kcelestebryan.com
http://katskwipsandrants.blogspot.com/ (Kat’s Kwips and Rants Blog)
======================
It’s been great fun having you here these few short days. I hope you will plan on coming back often. Please be sure to visit as your new books are released. We’ll be waiting.
Thanks for your time and your wonderful answers to some hard questions.

www.cricket-sawyer.com

Celeste is Reading --What?

On my To-Be-Read list: The Serpent Prince and The Bookseller’s Daughter, then I’ll have to hit the Internet and see what else I can order. I generally read two books alternately and write in between.

(pssst…do you have a title she should read? Why not leave a comment on the blog and tell her what it is?)

Authors I like: Louise Burton, Julia Quinn, Jacquie D’Alessandro.

12. How do you write? Are you a pantser or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?

I’m a rather unconventional writer. I plan the story in my head for months, every scene, every conversation between the characters until I know them inside and out. I need to know how they would react to a situation, whether or not they would actually say what I write down. Then I begin a scene, and most often it’s not Chapter One, but ends up somewhere in the middle of the book. From there, I work backward or foreword if called for. I never outline and don’t use note cards. It just doesn’t work for me.

13. How do you choose your characters' names?

Telephone books, baby books, and from the credit roll at the end of movies. If I see a name that grabs me, I write it down in a file. Somehow, one of them will match my character to a tee.

14. Do you write with music playing? If so, is the music likely to be songs with lyrics or only instrumentals?

I like to write when it’s quiet. Music distracts me.

15. What is the coolest thing about being an author?

Working for myself and not having a boss to tell me, “Get back to work.” I love the freedom writing offers. If I want to walk through the flower garden or play with the dog for half an hour, who’s to tell me I can’t?

16. What has surprised you about being a published author?

That people e-mail me and tell me how much they loved one of my books. I still can’t get over this. I love my books, but hey, I’m a little biased, so I don’t expect other people to fall in love with the story or the characters. It’s so nice when they do.

17. What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Read, sleep and garden. And then sleep some more.

18. What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?

Least: That one must be very disciplined and rigid in order to meet deadlines, keep promises and keep writing to make a living. It’s a never-ending cycle. And promoting is my least favorite. I think about all the hours I could be writing my next book.

I think that means you like the writing the most – and you prove that by how prolific you are. Tomorrow we’ll ask you for some advice we can use if we decide to follow your footsteps.
Happy reading!
K. Celeste Bryan
kcelestebryan@aol.com
http://www.kcelestebryan.com
http://katskwipsandrants.blogspot.com/ (Kat’s Kwips and Rants Blog)

We've only got Celeste here with us for one more day. Please get your questions to her quickly so that she will read them in time to answer them before she leaves. She is a very busy author and we are lucky to have the time to chat with her. So come speak up - Maybe I can convince her to let us read a chapter of one of her current books. Shout out if you like that idea. = )

Need Some Motivation, Masha Malka will deliver!

Masha Malka is a former Soviet refugee who knows first hand what it is like to be living below poverty level; to have low self-esteem; to start out without the language, money, or contacts and to make a great life for herself!

Masha went from living a life with little clarity and focus to becoming a successful entrepreneur, author, Clarity and Focus guru, international speaker and trainer as well as the mother of 3 children.

Understanding what it takes to successfully balance the demands of a growing career as an author, international speaker and a life coach with 3 children, husband, family, friends, and personal needs - she is passionate to show others how they can do it too!

Masha has delivered workshops, seminars, written articles and books, and provided personal training and coaching in the field of success and the skill of learning since 1998.

She graduated with Highest Honors from Florida Atlantic University majoring in Elementary Education. She then continued her graduate studies at Capella University completing a graduate certificate in Teaching and Training Online as well as Instructional Design for Online Learning. A life-long student, Masha is currently taking courses for an MBA. She is also a certified trainer in Accelerated Learning Techniques as well as Transformational Thinking.

Come back tomorrow for some exciting news about her book and for your chance to pick up a bunch of free stuff. See you Wednesday!
Cricket

IT'S TIME TO PARTY!!! Jordan Dane

We've been enjoying her posts, her visits to our blogs, we've been reading her excerpts and chapters and more - this dynamite tour is about to end but we don't want to stop so we are going to go out with a rip roaring bang with a huge PARTY

Are We Ready to P-A-R-T-Y!?!

The “Show—Not Tell” Virtual Book Tour is almost a wrap and we’ve been gearing up all month for the “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” for debut author Jordan Dane. Be here Sunday March 30th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern US time. (The virtual bar will be open, but feel free to BYOB.) The place: The Writer’s Chatroom, of course!

Since March 5^th, “newcomer” Jordan Dane has been the guest of honor at 7 virtual book tour stops sponsored by The Writer’s Chatroom. She’s been open to all questions and has shared personal and business information with anyone who stopped by. The last stop on the tour is hosted by Glenn Walker, founder of TWC, on March 29^th at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

There will be prizes galore up for grabs at the P-A-R-T-Y. Every person who interacted with Jordan at the VBT stops, except for the host at each tour stop, is eligible to win one of FIVE gift cards to B&N bookstores. (If the hosts stopped by at other tour stops, they are eligible and entered there.) The more comments left by each person, the more chances to win. So far, Tina M. Russo holds the record for having the most entries. Her prize for that? Just click on her name/hotlink to her website. It’s all about the marketing, folks. (Tina has a very nice website, btw.)

More opportunities to win prizes:

The Browse Inside Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nd9x)

Jordan’s contest page: http://www.jordandane.com/contest.php

And … there will be even MORE prizes given away during the P-A-R-T-Y!

Jordan sold SIX books to Avon/HarperCollins before the first one, No One Heard Her Scream, was released on March 25^th. She has back-to-back releases in April and May for the next two! And, she’s currently at work on her next series.

Don’t know about you, but I wannabe like Jordan! I want to learn just how she managed to do that, how she markets, how she plans her stories, how she sells them, and how she plans to get to the top of the New York Times Bestseller list! If you’re a Jordan wannabe like me, check out what she had to say at the VBT stops:

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com

Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com

Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/

Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/

Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com

Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com

Renee’ Barnes at http://msqtpi.livejournal.com/

Glenn Walker at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

See you at the “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30^th at TWC!

Linda J. Hutchinson

TWC team member/moderator

Freelance writer/copywriter

www.lindajhutchinson.com