Halloween Blog Hop!
Published October 28, 2010 | 
Happy Halloween! Welcome to Maddy Barone’s blog. I write paranormal werewolf romance with a twist. My current series, After the Crash, takes place in the future, but this future is after World War III has destroyed technology and reduced the female population to a precious few. So when a plane from our time crashes there, the female passengers are both coveted commodities and precious mates to the werewolves in that world. The first book, Sleeping With the Wolf, will be released by Liquid Silver Books in the near future. I love Taye Wolfe, my hero. He’s an easy-going Alpha until you threaten his mate. Then you die.
Don’t forget to join us for chat at Gem Savad’s Chat Room at these times:
Friday 10/29 at 7pm EST
Saturday 10/30 at 3pm EST and
Sunday 10/31 at 5pm EST
Since Halloween is the time for playing dress up and handing out candy, I’ve put the two together for you here. Which of these yummy pieces of eye candy guys would you like to go to a Halloween party with?
13 Secondary Characters That I Love
Published October 27, 2010 | H ave you ever read a book and loved the secondary characters as much as the leads? They should never take over a book, but a well-written secondary character can add immensely to a book’s depth. Some I’ve fallen in love with, some I’m fascinated by, some make me laugh. Here are some of my faves.
1. Cat from the Windflower by Laura London
2. Raven from the Windflower by Laura London
3. Rand Morgan from the Windflower by Laura London (yes, I know, but the Curtises excelled at writing interesting secondary characters and the Windflower is loaded with ‘em!)
4. Sethos from the Amelia Peabody mysteries by Elizabeth Peters
5. Abdullah from the Amelia Peabody mysteries by Elizabeth Peters
6. George, Lord Wrotham from Friday’s Child by Georgette Heyer
7. Ferdy Fakenham from Friday’s Child by Georgetter Heyer
8. Rennie Shaw from the Ukiah Oregon series by Wen Spencer
9. The Icefalcon from the Darwath series by Barbara Hambly
10. Lord Nightshade from the Elantra series by Michelle Sagara
11. Ivy Hisselpenny from Soulless by Gail Carriger
12. Rio from the Tiger’s Woman by Celeste De Blasis
13. The Tree (Jela’s Tree) from Sharon Lee & Steve Miller’s Liadan series.
There. Just a few that I love. Which secondary characters do you enjoy?
Some Like It Hot writing contest
Published October 26, 2010 | Seize your opportunity to write for the Cave with Tawny’s Taylor’s “Some Like It Hot” writing contest!!
Starting October 25th, 2010, Tawny Taylor will be hosting a writing contest!
The final judge is an editor from Ellora’s Cave.
The Prizes? Read on!
All SubGenres of erotic romance accepted, including:
~Contemporary~Fantasy~Futuristic~ Shapeshifter/Vampire~BDSM~
*You may submit one chapter–not to exceed 5000 words. Stories must be complete and unpublished.
*Each Monday, two stories will be selected by an Ellora’s Cave editor who is actively acquiring. At the end, six weekly winning authors will submit a partial (first three chapters, last chapter and synopsis) to the final judge for ranking.
The first place winner will receive …
A critique of the full winning manuscript by EC editor Grace Bradley!
The second place winner will receive…
A critique of the partial manuscript by EC editor Grace Bradley (first three chapters, last and synop).
The third place winner will receive…
A critique of the first chapter by EC editor Grace Bradley.
Details at: http://www.tawnytayl…ingContest.html
Getting Ready for NoNoWriMo
Published October 23, 2010 | 
Thirteen Scents I Love
Published October 21, 2010 | I have sinus disease that blocks my sense of smell from working. The medical term for this is anosmia. I literally cannot smell a thing. Nothing. This is a source of great tragedy for me. I love smelling things. And sometimes it can be dangerous to not smell things. Ever burn something and not known it until you smelled it? But twice a year I get a kenalog shot which shrinks the swelling and polyps enough for me to smell. So here are some of the things I look forward to smelling for a few weeks twice a year:
1. Coffee Is there anything better than the rich aroma of fresh brewed coffee on a cold morning?
2. Roasting Turkey I can remember what it was like to walk into Mom’s house on Thanksgiving and smell the turkey roasting in the oven. Yum! I haven’t smelled that since 1992.
3. A rose Roses have varying scents. Some are heavy and cloying, others are light and sweet. I’ll take it any way I can get it.
4. Apple Cider I love hot apple cider simmering on the stove with cloves and cinnamon sticks in it.
5. Dead leaves Weird, I know. But I remember walking through dried leaves, crunching them under my shoes in the fall. Or leaping into a pile of leaves in the backyard. It released a scent that I associate with carefree childhood.
6. Lilacs I love the scent of Lilacs. It means spring to me.
7. Chocolate chip cookies What can beat the smell of cookies baking?
8. Summer rain hitting hot asphalt It has a steamy smell to it.
9. Ylang Ylang I used to use essential oils to scent my handmade lotions and soaps. Ylang Ylang and Jasmine were some of my faves.
10. Apricot Ginger tea My brother gives me a quarter pound of this tea each year for my birthday. It smells divine.
11. Christmas tree The sharp scent of pine means Christmas to me, just as much as the cinnamon scented pinecones do.
12. Oranges You know that quick squirt of citrus smell when you tear the first strip off the orange as you peel it? yeah, that smell.
13. Air dried linens That smell that your bed sheets have when you hang them on the line to dry. No fabric freshener can get that scent right.
This is not a complete list, and it’s not in any particular order. I didn’t mention how I tear through my spices when my sense of smell starts coming back when I’ve had kenalog. Or how I walk up and down the aisles at the store where the soaps, candles and coffee are kept. Or how I savor every smell I come accross. How I envy people who have their sense of smell intact! Take some time today to enjoy what you smell.
What scents do you particularly enjoy?
Miss Bramble and the Leviathan by Kristin Painter
Published October 19, 2010 | I have recently fallen in love with all things steampunk! The dress, the technology, the fact that females are generally allowed freedom not found in historical romance. This book published by Samhaim has it all. Give me a brainy heroine anyday!
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The last thing she planned to steal was his heart.
The Company. Military institution, protector of Praeton and the nation of Grand Isle. Dirty rotten thief.
When Pandora Bramble steps aboard the Company’s premiere airship Daedalus it’s not for the exclusive VIP tour. It’s to secure proof that the Company stole the regulator valve her father designed—even if it means tearing the engine apart. Foiled by the unexpected appearance of a handsome crew member, she despairs of ever getting another chance—until he kisses her.
Captain Theolonius Hatch, sentenced to engine room duty for refusing to take part in the Company’s fleet week activities, never dreamed a woman like Pandora existed. Her brains match her beauty, a combination that adds up to more trouble than he ever expected.
As Pandora allows Theolonius to sweep her into a whirlwind courtship, her wildest dreams come true. As do her greatest fears, leaving her to decide what matters most. Loyalty…or love.
The clock is ticking.
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Product Warnings
This book contains airships, mechanical owls, women who are good with tools, men in and out of uniform, steam generated by engines and people, and some hot carriage scenes.
BUY IT HERE
Writing … It's Not For Pansies
Published October 15, 2010 | At this time last year I played at being a writer. I wrote for fun, with only vague expectations of submitting a story “someday”. Now I have a book that will be coming out in a few months, and I have other books planned for the series. I have no obligation to write more, but I want to. Those characters need to have their stories told too. Last March and April I could hardly wait to get home from work so I could write. I spent too much time at my desk at work mentally writing scenes. I wrote 75,000 words in 6 weeks. I absolutely was driven to write. And I loved it!
But now I have to FORCE myself to write. It’s like I’ve lost the joy of writing. It’s not Writer’s Block. I know the story I’m telling (occasionally my characters throw me for a loop, but still, I know what main events have to happen to tell the story) but I have to force myself to sit at the computer for hours to write a measly 500 words. Where has my joy and drive gone?
Maybe every writer goes through a phase like this. What was once a delight, a mere hobby for fun, has become a job. And I already have a job, monday through friday, from 7am-3:30 pm (unless we’re on overtime, which happens regularly. In fact, overtime starts again this coming week and goes through Christmas) I don’t have to write to support myself. Plus I have other hobbies like reading, knitting and spinning, costuming and the SCA to fill my free time. Writing is no longer one of those hobbies that I can do when I feel like it or abandon for something else. Except, that it could be that again if I wanted. I have no contract for the sequels, no obligations. I could, if I chose, go back to being a hobbyist. But the very thought of that makes me rear up and say: No! I want to share my stories. I want to keep being published. Not just for the money, although I’m looking forward to the royalty checks, but because I want people to read my stories. I want to make lots of money for my publisher and myself. But even more I want people to find a little escape through my writing.
Over on Romance Divas there is a thread where several successful authors have posted about how many books and novellas and short stories they have coming out this year and in 2011, and I simply stand in awe and envy. Envy because they keep selling their stories, and awe because wow! how do they do it? A couple have said that they have contracts to fulfill and deadlines to meet, so they have to write so prolifically, but that next year they are slowing down so they can have some times for their families and themselves. I don’t ever want to get to the point that I have no time for anything but writing. But I hope I get past this feeling that writing is a chore.
This is why writing ain’t for pansies. It is work. Sometimes it is hard grinding work with nothing to show for it. Do other writers ever think about giving it up? Sometimes a story flows out of me like water from a wide open faucet. Some times the story is forced out of a clogged faucet in drips and drabs. It takes longer to write that way, but at least it’s writing. I’m not quitting. I just hope I’ll find my enthusiasm and joy again. Soon.
Baron Berwyn's Tunic
Published October 9, 2010 | 
A friend of mine is going to be elevated to the Order of the Pelican next month. For those who are in the SCA you will know what a huge honor this is. For those who who aren’t in the SCA, never mind. Just know that is is a pretty cool thing. I am arranging a vigil for him, and making him a new wool tunic. I’ve chosen a deep burgundy-purple wool for the tunic, and dark green linen for the pants. I have a light tan wool for the neck facing. I’ve used my poor drawing skills to trace an embroidery design around the keyhole neck. His device is acorns, so I’m using acorns as the focus in the design. I hope to use my handspun wool embroidery thread for most of it, but I will use a bit of commercial black silk to outline the motifs, and some store bought wool for the broad band of couchedwork at the edge for a border . Berwyn has an Anglo-Saxon persona from after the Norman Conquest. He’s not rabid about authenticity, so I think the pattern I have chosen will work. Now I have three weeks to embroider the collar and sew the tunic and pants. Wish me luck!
Thursday 13
Published October 7, 2010 | Hello, this might be my last post in this blog. The wonderful Ria Ritchey is designing a website for me. It is up, but is only in the bare bones stage while she works on some extras like a contact page, importing this blog to the blog on the website and adding some photos. So here are 13 things about my new website:
1. The first thing is the web addy: www.maddybarone.com
2. I like my tagline: “Unlock Your Imagination” It covers more than just paranormal romance, since almost any book involves using your imagination. Someday I’d like top write other types of stories besides erotic romance.
3. The door with its iron scrollwork sits in mist, making me think of dreams, and the key hanging by my name hopefully invites the visitor to unlock the door.
4. I want visitors to feel like they can let go of everyday life and relax with my stories.
5. My “About Me” page may have to change. I’ve decided that a list of facts isn’t very interesting.
6. I haven’t gotten the final cover art for my book yet, so my “Books” page isn’t very inviting. I hope when I get the cover art it will immediatly draw the reader in.
7. I would like a side bars on every page. On the Home page I’d like to have my book with a purchase link in a sidebar so the visitor doesn’t HAVE to click every tab to find the important things.
8. I need to learn how to maintain and update my website myself.
9. I need ideas for what should be on my home page.
10. I need to know how often I should update the website.
11. I wonder how much does a website help an author sell books? Is it important?
12. I wonder if there is a way for me to add moire pages under my Books page in the future. Hopefully I’ll have a whole bunch of books on there someday.
13. I’m very excited to have a website!!
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