Tuesday Truth 7/9/13
The Tuesday Truth this week is a two parter.
One, Sleeping With the Wolf is a available in audio! It’s on iTunes and Audible!
Two, I am completely and utter hooked on Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson series. Book 5 comes out today so guess what I’ll be doing tonight?
Writing Update-Ellie’s Wolf News, Audiobooks, & Wolf’s Promise Teaser
Hello, everyone, I thought it was time I let people know what I’m up to these days writing-wise. I have been working with my editor on edits for Ellie’s Wolf. And did you know that the book will be coming out much earlier than I had expected?
The Release Date for Ellie’s Wolf is Monday, August 26, 2013!
That’s less than two months from now! Next weekend is a long weekend for me since my day job is closed Thursday and Friday for the Fourth of July, so I will be taking advantage of time off to send out my newsletter. It will have the first three chapters of Ellie’s Wolf attached. If you’re interested in getting a sneak peek at Quill and Ellie be sure to check your email on Saturday.
Another thing I’ve been busy with is audiobooks. Not that I actually did anything except listen to various auditions, which was fun and nerve-wracking at the same time. It was a difficult choice, but the narrator I chose is Clementine Cage from Brick Shop Audio. I love her voice and the way she made each character sound distinctly different. The quality of sound at Brick Shop Audio is excellent. I’m so pleased that my audiobooks will be well done. The production phase for Sleeping With the Wolf is wrapped up and I expect the book to be available at Audible, Amazon and iTunes by mid-July. Clementine and Brick Shop Audio are currently working on Wolf’s Glory. The five minute sample they did made me squee like a teenager!
Finally, I am working on Wolf’s Promise, the story of the plane’s surviving co-pilot and Des, Taye’s second-in-command. I love Connie. She’s one of those kick-@$$ heroines who is fun to write, although she has a tendency to take over the story to get her way. This will be a short free read, so I’ll be posting chapters here as we go. Later it will be on Amazon, etc.
Want a little teaser? Click Here for Wolf’s Promise Chapter 1. Do remember, please, this has not been to the editor yet. Actually, I haven’t done much self-editing either, so it’s rough. Be kind!
Tuesday Teaser 6/25/13-Jelly’s Story
Poor Jelly. his name is now Spotted Stone Wolf, but his mate mockingly refers to him as Spot.
Poor Stone. Snared by a pair of pansy brown eyes as hot and wild as a prairie fire, and almost as gentle. What does a wolf have to do to get a little petting? Apparently, getting shot twice in the belly is just the ticket.
The bedsprings groaned under him as he stretched one arm above his head to test the torn muscles in his belly. Searing pain told him he wouldn’t be getting up for a while. Footsteps, light and quick, tapped in the hall outside the bedroom and the door opened. His mate came to the bed and scowled down at him. Ah, yes, that was his sweet mate.
“When someone points a gun at you, you’re supposed to move,” she said, brows pulled straight over narrowed eyes.
“I did!” he protested.
“Away from it, Spot, you idiot, not toward it.”
Spot. He hated when she called him that. Time for a little payback. “The gun was pointed at you, little girl. I had to stop the bullet.”
The way she clenched her jaw at his nickname for her made him want to grin. She huffed. “With your stomach?”
He almost forgot his wound but remembered just before he would have shrugged in a show of nonchalance. “It was handy.”
“You idiot,” she murmured, leaning over the bed to stroke his tangled hair. “You idiot.”
Tuesday Teaser 6/18: Wolf’s Promise
Here is a bit from chapter 1. It’s raw and I may re-write it (again). I want enough detail that those who have never read the series can figure out what’s going on, but I don’t want to bore readers who have read the series. In other words, I want to build the world but make it part of the story. Anyway, here you go. Connie is staring at a hand drawn calendar and talking with Kathy, one of the survivors.
Connie stopped dead on her trek across the kitchen to stare at the calendar on the wall. Today was Monday, December 29, 2064.
Kathy stopped too. “It’s been exactly two months, hasn’t it?” she asked quietly. “The plane took off on October 29.”
“Yeah.” While she stared blindly at the calendar, Connie’s mind drifted back to that day. The vertical wind shear they hit was so strong it disabled the plane. Inexplicably, all engines failed simultaneously. Like every pilot, she and Don had trained for every emergency imaginable and they worked calmly and quickly to retake control of the plane. Nothing had worked. The plane had screamed a metallic protest under the stress of air currents, and finally, broken, had come down to earth in a barely controlled crash that left too few alive. If only …
Connie shook her head briskly. It never did her any good to review the sequence of events from that morning, so she shoved the memory away. Besides, it just made her headache worse. She made herself glance around the room, noting rush of women cooking lunch. Good. Maybe some food would tame her headache.
Kathy leaned closer to speak in a low voice. “You should stop blaming yourself. You and the captain did everything you could.”
“Not enough.” Connie heard the bleakness in her voice. “Too many died.”
“You’re not being fair to yourself. Some of us did survive.”
Her laugh came out of her throat like cheese scraped over a grater. “Thirty out of a hundred and two.”
Kathy squeezed her forearm. “That’s thirty who still have lives. Probably more would have died, if we hadn’t gotten help from the Lakota. Heaven was looking out for us. The Lakota nursed us through and they brought us here to Kearney, where the mayor gave us a safe place to live.”
Connie refrained from asking why heaven didn’t look out for the seventy-two who hadn’t made it. “It’s safe because we’re surrounded by a barbed wire fence patrolled by armed guards. Women being so rare that we’re like gold in a bank vault.”
“Or water in a desert.” Kathy brayed with laughter. “When you’re my age, it’s nice to have younger men panting over you, wanting to lick you up and down.”
Connie closed her eyes. “Stop! Do not put that image in my head.”
Winners!
Thanks, everyone, for playing! The two winners are DarinP. and MyGirls01. I have emailed the winners. I think I need to do this more often! 🙂
Congrats!
Sunday Giveaway: Wolf Tracker
I haven’t done a giveaway in a long time. It’s hard for me –or any author– to choose a favorite from the books they’ve written. It’s kind of like a mother choosing a favorite child. But if I had to choose, I think Wolf Tracker would be my favorite. Since I’m in a generous mood, I’m going to give away two downloads tonight at 8:30 central time. To enter, just leave a comment below. Remember, those who receive my newsletter are automatically entered twice. If for some reason you can’t leave a comment, you can email me at maddybarone@gmail.com and use Tracker Giveaway as the subject line.
Strong, independent Tami was a survivalist and mountain guide in 2014 when she was flung forward fifty years into a post-apocalyptic future where women are rare and each is worth their weight in gold. She is taken by four men to be their wife, but when she escapes from them they hire the Tracker, a deadly loner from the Wolf Clan with a reputation for being able to track anything, to bring her back. But Tami knows how to ride and how to hide, and she leads him on a chase that rouses his admiration. Behind Tracker’s stone cold face is a man who yearns for a wife of his own. When he catches up with Tami and learns that she is not a willing wife, he knows he can’t give her up.
Good luck!
Plotting Wolf’s Promise-A Pantser Attempts to Plot
Every writer creates their story in their own way. Some have a very detailed outline set up before they ever beginning writing. Those are “plotters”. They have every step of the plot meticulously planned. Others have a hero and heroine at Point A and know they will be in love and happy by Point B. Those are “pantser”. They write by the seat of their pants. How exactly the H/h will get to Point B is vague when they begin writing.
Most writers fall between plotter and pantser but lean more in one direction than the other. I have always been a pantser. Really, REALLY a pantser. On May 26 my fellow Liquid Silver Books author Tina Holland taught a workshop at our local critique group meeting on how to use a plotting board. I’ve been waiting ever since to try it out. But the only place I have to lay out a plotting board is my kitchen table. And wouldn’t you know it, my kitchen light died on May 30. I’ve called the apartment management three times. Finally, last night I went and bought a cheapo floor lamp. Putting it together was not as successful as I would have liked. But though it leans like a drunken sailor, it does the job. I have Wolf’s Promise loosely plotted!
I thought others might like to know how I used it. Everyone uses a plotting board differently, I’m sure. As you can see, the story will take place over a very short time, only a few days. I am using a white board with a blank calendar printed on it. The actual action takes place between Monday December 29 and Thursday January 1. Here is what I did:
1. In the vertical Sunday column I wrote “Connie” in the first two squares, and “Des” in the next two squares, and “Other” in the last square. That is for setting.
2. In the Monday column I wrote the date “29” in the corner of all five squares. In the Tuesday column I wrote “30”, in the Wednesday, “31” and in the Thursday, “1”.
3. Then I began writing choppy sentences on the stickies. The bright pink stickies are for Connie’s actions. “Break up cat fight” etc. The dark blue stickies are for Des’ actions. “”Ask Connie to be mate”. Orange are for back story. “Connie: plane crash”. White stickies are for Goals/Motivation. “C: keep women safe”. Yellow-green are setting. “At PWH”. Purple are love scenes.
4. Place stickies on the appropriate day on either Connie or Des’ squares.
The light blue stickies on the left side of the board are Des’ back story, some of which will play a part in the story and some won’t. For instance, his mother was murdered by townsmen, and he now hates townsmen. In order to marry Connie he has to be able to live with townsmen. His ultimate Goal is to win Connie, which is on a white sticky. Those things obviously will be in the story. He doesn’t like cats, milk or the color purple. Those things probably won’t be in the story. Connie’s back story on the lighter pink.
If while I’m writing I decide to change the sequence I can just move the sticky.
Is that clear? It is to me, kind of. I guess we’ll see how it goes when I start writing this afternoon! 🙂
The Reader & Author Get Together 2013
It was a long drive from North Dakota to Ohio, but I hate to fly, so it was worth it. My friend Jessica went with me again this year. I had a fantastic time at the RAGT, as I always do. And as I always do, I forgot to take many pictures. I always have such good intentions but you know what they say about the paving on the road to that hot place 🙂
We arrived on Thursday in the late afternoon and one of the first people I saw was Paige Tyler. She and her hubby Paul have been super nice to me each of the three times I’ve gone to the RAGT. They saved a spot for us at their table and we sat with them for every meal. I didn’t get a pic of them (darn it!) but here is one of me and Paige and Brenda Wheeler, a member of Paige’s street team. Brenda was a fun lady and I’m glad I had a chance to get to know her. Her husband Don joined us, and I have to say, he’s a great guy to accompany his wife to a romance readers convention. That’s true love!
On Friday morning I went down to the Liquid Silver Books Boardroom to meet Monette Michaels and Linda Eberhart from my publishers, and then Paige grabbed me to help stuff the 500+ goodie bags. It was surprisingly hard work, but it was fun. Here is a pic of my friend Jessica with a bag. isn’t that pink leopard print cute?
the goody bag
That evening I was one of the authors signing. I’m not including that pic, because I look as dumpy as an overweight hippo stuffed into a blouse that showed every bulge. But I had fun! I sat beside Anara Bella, who was so friendly she helped settle my nerves. I got to see Robyn Bachar and her friend Diana. They are so much fun!
And I got to meet up with Jessica Bowes, who had won the shawl I knit for a blog hop prize. Isn’t that cute on her? She and her mom look like sisters, not mother and daughter.
I also got to have a 20 minute met and greet in the LSB boardroom.
Jessica and I both won two raffle baskets, which rocked, because Jessica and pretty much stuffed one bag with her name. She REALLY wanted that set of books!
On Saturday I got to hang out with writing partners Christine Lawrence and Steph Smith. Since they live a couple of hours away from each other they don’t get the chance to actually sit down together in person. They were kind enough to let me interrupt their work for me to visit with them.
There were so many other people I enjoyed seeing and talking to, but of course, I didn’t get pics.
It was a busy, busy, fun, fun weekend! Jessica and I got home around suppertime on Monday. I’m already looking forward to next year!
One Way Farm Wrap
I designed (if a very simple knitted wrap can be called a design!) a shawl for the raffle basket my friend Jessica and I donated to Lori Foster’s Reader & Author Get Together last weekend. I received a number of complimentary comments on the shawl, and so I typed up the pattern. This is so easy that a pattern isn’t needed, but a lot of knitters prefer something written down as opposed to vague verbal directions. See the link below for the pattern (such as it is!)
ONE WAY FARM WRAP
I designed and knit this super easy shawl for a raffle basket at Lori Foster’s Annual Reader & Author Get Together. The proceeds from the raffle go to One Way Farm, so I named it after them. That non profit organization helps abused and abandoned kids and those with disabilities. They do good work. Learn more about them here: www.OneWayFarm.org.
The shawl is light enough to wear around your neck like a scarf, but it can be draped around the shoulders to keep you warm in an overly air conditioned restaurant or theater.
You can click the link for a printable pdf file of the pattern. One Way Farm Wrap
Hope you enjoy knitting it!
Tuesday Teaser 6/4/13: Ellie’s Wolf
Tomorrow I’m off to Lori Foster’s Annual Reader & Author Get Together in Ohio! I received Wolf’s Prize back from the publisher with a request to make a few changes before they offer me a contract. My goal was to have it turned back in before I left, but I’ve been so busy getting ready for the trip that I haven’t finished the changes yet. One of the changes is the title. Wolf’s Prize will be Ellie’s Wolf instead. When I have signed the contract I’ll make updates throughout the website.
Meanwhile, here is a conversation between Ellie and Rose:
Rose wiped the heel of her hand over her eyes. Like many fair skinned people her face was blotched red from her tears, but the blue of her blue-gray eyes was more vivid. “You’re here now. Sky got Taye’s letter, but he didn’t come for the funeral.”
Resentment edged Rose’s voice. Ellie tried to find the right words. “Did you want him to come? Do you want to marry him?”
“No! Yes! Oh, lord, I don’t know.” Rose sprang up from the bed to pace. “Six years ago I’d rather have married a tarantula. But I want a baby and unless there’s a miracle, I won’t have one unless Sky comes back.”
