Renee Field

A rainy Monday morning just got a lot sunnier for me. I received an email informing me that my new book, Fairy Curses: Kissed (previously titled The Ungodlies: The Damned Fairy) finalled in the Maryland Romance Writers’ Reveal Your Inner Vixen Contest. I’m totally over the moon with this news. I loved writing this book and the sequel is coming along fast and furious.
 

What I think is especially interesting about writing Fairy Curses: Kissed is that it all came to me during a very bad writing slump for me. Two weeks without writing is a slump on a big scale for me. Then one day my good writing friend, Karen, dropped off a Celtic Mythology book to me and I started to leaf through it and viola – Fairy Curses. One name in particular stood out for me, Einion, my damned hero and then I worked on mapping out the entire book. Recently, another good writing friend of my confessed she thought the title of my new series, The Ungodlies, wasn’t, “doing it for the book.” With her help, and a long car drive we worked out a new title and then I dashed home and worked on revamping the high concept, the synopsis and the rest of the six books that are in my head. I must say, I love the new title, Fairy Curses because that’s the basic theme linking all six books.

Here is my new high concept blurb. One kiss unleashed desire, burning arousal and the unknown. He was fairy cursed…damned to the eternal plane of Earth, looking to end his life for good. Instead he found the sweet, lush lips of a highland lass and knew she would be the death of him. One kiss leads to the awakening of an innocent’s passion. One kiss could destroy two worlds. Fairy Curses: Kissed is a dark modern sensual paranormal romance. 

Bringing this blog back to my way of saying a huge thank you to the Maryland Romance Writers’ judges. I truly value all the great feedback and that’s why I entered this contest. I’m always looking for feedback, good or bad, concerning my writing. Thanks again.

Okay, as writers we all have our own way of writing and I confess that sometimes I feel like I’m still learning how to “write” the proper way. I’ve been writing erotic and sensual romance steadily for four years and there are times when a story has a life of its own. I try to outline but then when I start writing, whammo—it’s like I’ve been hit by a car and I end up on this totally other path. Is this a bad thing? Sometimes, the answer is yes. Sometimes, it’s unequivocally a no. I’ve learned to trust my muse over the years. If the characters aren’t talking in my head than I know I’m going to have a hard time writing their story. And when I say “talking” I mean it. I have entire conversations taking place in my head sometimes all day, while I’m jogging or in the shower and it feels like I’m just buying time until I can sit down and finally write out those damn dialogue lines.

So, this brings me back to the title. I do plot my stories but I am a dreamer. I always know the beginning and end and most of the middle of my books but sometimes a secondary character will develop their own voice that needs to become an integral part of the story and I just go with it. But I know many writers who totally plot out their books from start to end, chapter by chapter. And, guess what I’ve done that too! I did that with fellow Sexies erotic writer, Christine d’Abo, for Sweet and Spicy Spells and personally I felt it worked great. Writing a book with four main characters, two of which you are totally responsible for but they have to link with the other hero and heroine while being realistic is hard but a lot of fun. I think as a writer the challenge is to ensure your own voice doesn’t get overlooked. However, the only way I could write that book with Christine was basically us mapping out every single chapter, who was speaking, the plot line, etc.

I want to hear from you writers. Do you outline your books from start to finish or do you give yourself “wiggle” room. Drop me a line and tell me which of your books you wrote was the easiest to write (if there is such a thing) and you could win a copy of my latest erotic release, Electrify Me, from Ellora’s Cave. I want to hear from you. Leave a comment and tell us about your book you wrote and why it worked best for you.

Hi everyone. I just got back from attending my romance writer’s annual weekend retreat. Besides the beautiful setting of White Point Lodge in Nova Scotia, being able to converse and attend workshops with ten other talented romance writers was out of this world. One of the most unique workshops was put on by my friend, Nancy Cassidy and it centered on the use of color as a stimulating tool for writing. She handed out crayons (and I knew instantly I’d like this workshop as I’m a very tactical person) and then a list of all the crayon names created by Crayola (check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Crayola_crayon_colors for more informatio) and it was really interesting to see how the crayon’s nams have evolved and how the colors have emerged over the years. So here’s what I thought to spur those creative juices to pour this morning - go get your crayons (or your kids crayons) and take 10 minutes out of your day to do this morning’s creative writing excersise. If you really want to challenge yourself this morning do part II of the writing excersise - trust me it’s lots of fun.

Part I:
Pick 4 crayons but two must be somewhat similar in color- don’t look at the name on the crayons label (no peeking). Scribble with them on a blank piece of paper. Now I want you to name your crayons - go for it, be creative. Then once you’ve renamed your crayons I want you to describe the differences in the two crayons you picked that were most similiar. What makes them different, the same etc. You have 10 minutes. Then look at the labels on your colors - read them alone to a friend- they’ll get a good laugh at your new crayon names.

Part II:
Using one of those new colors I want you to write at least one paragraph to describe how that color makes you feel and use your newly named crayon’s name in that paragraph. You have 10 minutes. Later read it to a friend to see if they can get how your color made you feel.

Thanks so much.

What makes a man hot? You’d think that would be an easy answer. Nope. For me personally a man could have that six-pac body but if he’s not intelligent, able to make me laugh well forget it. Seriously, I will do the double-take and check out the bod and maybe fantasies about other things but there might be a first date but no second. What makes it so a woman wants to climb, crawl, slink and slither all over a man all the time. Tell me. I’d like to know. Is it his looks that turn you on? Is it those sweet erotic things he says to you that makes you feel tingly and oooohhh so special? Or is it the chase? Yeah, I’m totally into the chase. Nothing like a little mind fantasy to get me all hot and bothered. So spill the beans. What seriously dampens your panties?

I won! I won! I’m still trembling with joy over my first book’s major win. Rapture, which was my baby for three years, just won for Best EPPIE Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. According to the EPIC website - The EPPIE Awards have been given annually since the first EPIC conference to recognize outstanding achievement in e-publishing. The categories are judged by members of EPIC, all published authors. After the first round of judging, the works of the finalists are sent to another panel of judges, and winners in all eighteen categories are selected. I want to say a huge thank you to the organizers of this award contest, to the many authors out there who donated their time to read and judge all the books in each category and to my fans who continue to tell me they love Rapture. So what has winning the award meant to me? It’s helped to reaffirm that I’m on the right track. I thoroughly enjoy writing paranormal and I love soul-defining romance. I love creating new worlds, hard-edged characters that we want to love even though we know they are beyond human. And it’s spurred me on complete book two in my Titan series, which will feature Darius (Seth’s twin brother) and he’s not a happy Titan. This book is more than half-way written (and was so last year) but I started another series, The Ungodlies – in between, so had to put it on hold. I can’t have too many characters talking in my head or I would go insane. Yes, my characters do talk to me and usually by the time I’m ready to open my laptop their voice is dying to be released on the computer. Winning an EPPIE I’m also hoping will provide me with some leverage in my search for a new agent. I fired mine over a year ago and having since recovered from that ordeal I am once again putting myself on the block. This time though I’m going to do my homework.Thank you once again to the EPIC organizers and readers who love Rapture. I know I loved writing and re-writing it and my fingers are crossed that when the sequel comes out it will be even better. 

Adolescence. Really they should give parents a drug so we can cope through this stage. My eldest, a 12 year-old, know-it-all boy is on this lovely rollercoaster of a ride and I’m left barely hanging on. We go from having a great time together, sitting on the sofa to him becoming demanding, like mom cut me up an apple. Okay, you’re 12 cut up your own apple or wash it and eat it. Voila a fight develops. I become the worst mom ever.

I’m the only mom he tells me that makes their children do chores. What? All the rest of those moms are nuts, I tell him. You are more than half-way to becoming a man and I’m teaching you life skills. So, yes part of that is learning how to do your own laundry, how to put soap in the washing machine, turn on the dryer and fold your clothes and better yet placed them in those things called drawers. Ughhh!

Someone help me. When I tell him all the things I had to do at his age he says that was the old days. Old days? Honey, I ain’t that old, but dealing with him is certainly aging me. I don’t want my son to go through life with everything handed on a platter for him, I want him to work. I want him to appreciate the things I do for him. How many moms stay home, sacrifice their careers so I can take him to and pick him up from school, come home to home baked cookies or brownies and a hot meal on the table. Yeah, buddy list those off! So we do drive a rusty 12 year-old van. We don’t have an X-box or the latest gadgets of toys and we are scraping by month after month. But we do it. For him, and his other three siblings. And, yes I tell him when they reach his age they too will start doing chores. The ten year old is totally responsible for his pets and thank god does that and has started putting his own clothes away after I fold them, so progress is being made. But the 12 year-old thinks I’m his servant. I’ve had enough. I told him starting tonight he’ll be making his own lunches. You would have thought the world had ended with how he carried on and I part of me was immediately reminded that he may be 12 but he’s still young, still my baby boy at heart, but then I thought “tough love” he’ll be better in the end with this one chore because he’ll learn more about self-reliance.

Plus, I needed at least two more cups of tea to truly deal with him and soooo wasn’t in the mood for theatrics.

Anyone else out there coping with those lovely adolescent years. Feel free to rant. I know it always makes me feel better. And, just because you might rant I’m going to randomly pick a winner today and the lucky person will receive a free electronic copy of Love Me Tender, my second erotic novella published by Ellora’s Cave. So drop me a line and make my day!

Goals. Okay now that I wrote that don’t go running and screaming from the screen. I am the first to admit that setting a goal does two things for me. One, it makes me slightly panicky and secondly it gives me a clear idea of what I’m striving for. Now, for those that don’t know me (many of you) I am a serious writer. What???? Yup, you heard me. I write every day. Now, I write most of my stuff on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s because that’s when my three-year old is in daycare. Did I mention I have four children – three of whom are in school? So, I’ve learned to organize and juggle but only two years ago did I learn that I had to set goals for ME!!!

I’m going to capitalize ME because as a MOM I always put my wants, needs and goals on the back burner. Why? Don’t know. But two years ago I realized that wasn’t fair to ME and my family. I am happier when I write. I am also happier when I make my goals.

So as a writer you might wonder how many pages do I write? Well, it can vary but on average I set a goal of 10,000 words a week. If you break that down it’s only 2,000 words, five days a week. For me I have to usually double that number because I only get three full days to write. And for me my full day ends at 2pm when I have to pick up my other children from school. The other trick that works for me is that I try not to watch a lot of TV. Now, lately that hasn’t been a problem because of the writers strike but if I watch TV all night I usually hate myself in the morning for being unproductive. So I try to write at least 1,000 words at night or edit what I wrote during the day.

My other goal for ME this year was to become more physically active. Now that I confess I’m having a harder time with. I’d rather be writing then running, which is the only exercise I like to do, but I decided this week that I’m going to sign up for an exercise course I haven’t tried before in the evening once a week to accomplish this goal. I did join LA Weightless and that has been great for me. Nothing like being accountable for what you eat and I’ve lost 12lbs all ready….very happy about that. I’m not going to worry that it’s taking me a long time to lose the 12lbs because I set a yearly goal of losing 20lbs and I will make it.

I do post my writing goals on my local romance chapter goals loop and I do write my goals down in my computer and print off all the books I plan to write this year. For me having a visual (book title and concept) works for me.

Now, what works for you? Are you able to set goals for YOU this year? Share the tricks of what you’ve found helpful and what hasn’t worked for you. We can all use an inspirational story.

We’ve all grabbed lots of books because the cover drew us in only to be disappointed with the opening paragraph. Usually I’ll give a new book one entire chapter before I decide my time is better spent reading something else. Sometimes though I only give a new book one page, especially if I’m in a buying mood.  You might ask yourself how, in one page, can you grab the reader? I will be the first to admit that’s hard, but as a reader isn’t that our goal? Recently I strolled through my local Chapters bookstore and picked up six new books. Of those six books, two were new authors for me. Candidly, I will admit that the covers of all six books drew me in but after reading the opening paragraph I only walked away with two. Now, this is also subjective. What I like to read is different from the next person. Still though, I walked away thinking…a writer really only has 30 seconds to grab a new reader.  Here’s what I read:Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost, published by Avon. (www.jeanienefrost.com)I stiffened at the red and blue lights flashing behind me, because there was no way I could explain what was in the back of my truck. I pulled over, holding my breath as the sheriff came to my window.“Hi. Something wrong?” My tone was all innocence while I prayed there was nothing unusual about my eyes. Control yourself. You know what happens when you get upset.“Yeah, you’ve got a busted taillight. License and registration, please.”Crap. That must have happened when I was loading up the truck bed. Speed had been of the essence then, not daintiness. These nine sentences hooked me. Last night I started to read it and today I’d like nothing more than to shut out the rest of the world, curl up with this amazing book and finish it. My gut instinct that this would be a good read so far holds true. I’m half-way through and so it keeps getting better. The other book I walked away with is Atlantis Awakening by Alyssa Day, published by Berkley Sensation. (www.alyssaday.com) Now, I will admit that I’ve read another book by Day and I think it was in this series. What annoyed me as a buyer was that she didn’t list her other books in the front of this one so I’m left wondering, did I already read this and have forgotten it? Ahh, who cares? I bought it because again, the opener grabbed me.  Here’s what I read:Atlantis Awakening: The Warriors of Poseidon by Alyssa Day.“These are my kind of odds,” Ven said, drawing his sword with his right hand and one of the seven daggers strapped to various parts of his body with his left. “Not even gonna brother with my Glock and its nifty new silver bullets for this mangy crew.”The vamp leading the gang—flock? herd? What the hells did you call a group of vamps this big?—of vamps that had cornered them in the alley hissed, making sure to show a mouthful of fangs. “Prepare to die, human. You are vathhhtly outnumbered,” it threatened, with that peculiar lisp so characteristic of the recently undead. They hadn’t quite yet gotten the hang of talking with a mouthful of tooth. Again, this worked for me. It made me smile because I sense she’s given her main character humor while making him immediately warrior ready for battle.  I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a comment and find the opening paragraph or first few sentences that had you hooked in your favorite book. What made you buy? Was it the cover or the words inside?

Solstice! Yup today is the beginning of the days of days. That’s what I call it. When the darkness of the night weakens to the full light of the sun. I’m a light person. I admit to being totally affected by the dark, dreary days of winter. I need the sun to make me happy, just ask my family!  Here’s a little tidbit of fact: Since the time when the 25th was established as the solstice in Europe the difference between the Julian calendar year (365.2500 days) and the tropical year (365.2422 days) moved the day associated with the actual astronomical solstice forward approximately three days every four centuries until 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII changed the calendar bringing the northern winter solstice to around December 21st. In the Gregorian calendar the solstice still moves around a bit, but only about one day in 3000 years. Okay, enough of that. What I want is to hear from you readers. I know there’s books out there centered around the theme of solstice, isn’t that the hot time of the year when the pull for sex is felt by all (yeah, that’s it). Anyway, I’m looking for a list of books that have this theme. I’m also feeling generous. You need to have a list of five books that either you know of or have read. Leave your list in the comment section. At the end of the day I will randomly pick a winner (exclusdes you SdoS gals) to win an e-book of your choice, a copy of either one of my Ellora’s Cave publications: Sweet and Spicy Spells (co-authored with the great Christine d’Abo), Love Me Wild, or Love Me Tender, or an e-copy of my sensual mainstream book, Rapture published with Cerridwen Press. So get your list in!!!

I’m still dancing, chatting a mile a minute and constantly hitting my email update. Why? Because both of my books are finalist in the 2007 EPPIE Awards. Could I be more stunned - nope! Seriously, this totally blew me away (in a good Mary Poppins way). Rapture my mainstream SENSUAL book published with Cerridwen Press is a finalist in the Romance Fantasy/Paranormal category and Love Me Wild published with Ellora’s Cave is a finalist in the Erotic Romance Fantasy/Paranormal category. Just to get two nods will have me dancing for a long, long time. Now, I’d love to go to the award ceremony in March but there is no way that’s going to happen. Leaving hubby with the four kids in March, which is in my mind the month when Hell takes a holiday and Ice celebrates in the Maritimes, well that would not go over good. But to everyone going…please think of me as the lint on your shoulder, watching your every move, listening to all your dirty little secrets. Smack! I’m totally fried.

 Once I did settle down - that was about five minutes ago for the all of 10 minutes - I finished my first round of edits on my new erotic novella. Must say printing out your own story and liking what you read is a real thrill. Now, let’s hope a publisher likes it also.

 I know it’s not the New Year yet but I’m a bit of an obsessive freak with trying to get one up on getting organized. So after that hype today, I did a list of my 2008 goals - some are work related and some are dreams. 

Here it goes:

Find The Ungodlies: The Damned Fairy - that’s my hot urban fantasy set in Cape Breton - a great publisher.

Finish the sequel The Ungodlies: The Damned Druid by end of June.

Finish the sequel to Rapture called Bliss by April

Finish the third Maida erotic story

Write a 1st draft for my co-authored Y/A story (that’s with my girlfriend Karen Bagnell who is an amazing, omg writer!!! Go girl!!!

Work more on my screen play

Make more dates with hubby

 Step out of my comfort zone once a month and go somewhere new (restaurant, coffee shop, place, etc)

Go out dancing more - lol - any excuse for that.

Lose another 10lbs - just dropped 12 so I’m doing my major snoppy dance

Run 5km twice a week

Take the kids on longer hikes

Go canoeing with hubby

Buy more stock in romance publishers - lol - seriously, I buy enough romance books I might as well.

 That’s it folks! I’m sure I won’t sleep tonight but that could be because I’m still playing musical beds with my kids - tada for now.

Renee