Nanowrimo Day 9

My nano seems to have puttered to a stop. But, my editing is going like a rocket ship. So perhaps there is a reason for everything. The whole door/window analogy.

I’ve edited all 183 pages of my contemporary so it is ready to be submitted to an e-publisher.  I’m going to start editing my Golden Heart entry today so I can have a critique partner look it over and send it in before Thanksgiving.

I still have plans for Nano. If I don’t hit 50,000 words I’m not going to beat myself up, because I’ve done more writing-related stuff this month than I’ve done in months.

Just keep in mind the whole door/window thing.

Jill James

Nanowrimo

Otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month.  The brainchild of Chris Baty, Nano as it is called is a shoutout to writers everywhere to sit down for the month of November and write a book. 50,000 words by November 30.

I’ve done it for three previous years. This year has been kind of a funk and I need Nano to get the creative juices flowing again. My story for Nano this year is a haunting/Ghost Hunters kind of story. A romance of course.

You can buddy me on Nanowrimo — I’m there as mrsgodiva

Day 1 total – 1900 words.

Jill James

What are you afraid of?

Everyone has fears. Some things made us so afraid they are phobias and have clinical names for them. Pediaphobia – fear of dolls.  Claustrophobia – fear of closed places.  Or my personal fear – Gephyrophobia – fear of crossing bridges.

As writers we need to give our characters fears too.  How they deal with them is what shows what they are made of – do they let their fears dictate their lives, do they get help, or do they use immersion therapy to deal with them.  Immersion therapy is when you face your fears head on, surrounding yourself with dolls, locking yourself in the closet, or going over a dozen bridges in one day to get over your fear.

If you are a reader, do you like your characters in your books to have some fear to make them human?

If you are a writer, do you add fear to your character’s make-up to make them three-dimensional and real?

Jill James

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

 

**spoiler alert** Mary, Queen of Scots dies in the book. She is beheaded at the order of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England

 

I thought I knew the story of Mary, Queen of Scots. A foolish woman who ruled with her heart instead of her head. Taking husbands and lovers right and left. Philippa Gregory’s book puts a different spin on a famous tale of Elizabethan history.

The Mary in this book believes with her heart and soul she is safe from being killed because she is annointed by God to rule her lands. Until the bitter end she believes in her cousin’s beliefs that an annointed Queen can not be killed.

The book shows a different side of Mary, a Queen who might have done great things if she had had advisors who wanted her to succeed. If she had had loyal countrymen willing to free her from England. If she had had a loyal half-brother who didn’t seize her throne the moment she was stuck in England.

The story is told from Mary’s, George Talbot’s – her jailer/host, and his wife’s Bess POV. It has a clear view of the times and what was at stake for Mary and Queen Elizabeth I at every choice they made.

**disclaimer** – book reviewed was purchased by reviewer at book store.

Jill James

Evil Editor

Evil Editor - Why you don’t get published.

This blog is not for the faint of heart, anyway, if you are faint of heart trying to publish a book is NOT where you want to be.

He tells it like it is and is a great insight into the editor’s heart and mind.

Jill James

Psychic Readings

At a recent RWA chapter meeting we had a psychic come and talk to us.  I was a skeptic but wanted to believe.  Edward Carrion is an amazing man and an amazing psychic.  His tales of his childhood were sad and inspiring at the same time.  He explained a lot about his belief system and what he believes to be true about the other side.

He also talked about spotting frauds and fakes and scam artists just after your money and that was great information to receive.

After the talk and lunch I got to have a reading.  I figured ‘what the hell’.  I thought it would be fun and informative for my writing.  I was blown away.  I can’t go into details because some of the secrets he spilled are not mine to tell, but he told me things that only selected people in our family know.

The one thing I can tell is: I was a devilish child. In my father’s eyes I could do no wrong. So, I would do bad things, let my brother take the blame, and enjoy that he was the one in trouble.  No one but my brother and I know that.

If you get a chance, find a reputable psychic and get a reading. You might be surprised.

Do you believe in psychics and mediums?

Check out Edward Carrion at www.readingbyedward.com  

Jill James

Recent Reads

Recent reads include one historical and one contemporary with paranormal elements.

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer, and Anne Stuart. This one was hiding in my TBR pile. Didn’t even remember it was autographed until I opened it up to start reading. What a treasure I was missing. This book is hilarious. With the adventures and misadventures of Dee, Lizzie, and Mare along with their lovers.

 

Tempt Me At Twilight by Lisa Kleypas. OMG!! This one will be on my keeper shelf to be brought down and reread often. The characters are so real and the hero is so troubled you root for Harry and Poppy from the very beginning of the story.  It is set in a time when a kiss was a scandal and marriage was a foregone conclusion if you got caught. I was wrapped up in the silken web of this story from the beginning line: Her chances of a decent marriage were about to be dashed—and all because of a ferret.

 

Hope you enjoy, Jill James

Edittorrent

Edittorrent

Edittorrent We’re two editors who agree except when we disagree. Between us, we have edited novels, novellas, non-fiction, short stories, computer manuals, legal briefs, advertising copy, educational text, newspaper articles– everything. Now we work as acquisition editors for a publisher of fiction of various lengths.

This is a great blog to get the inside scoop on how editors think and why.  What writer doesn’t want to know about that?

Jill James

Remember

Sometimes September 11th, 2001 seems like yesterday and sometimes it seems like a lifetime ago.  You find yourself dividing your life into before and after 9/11.

We had just moved into our new house a few months before the event and it added to the disorientation to be in what still seemed a strange house, in a strange neighborhood, and in strange times.

My son was still in elementary school and I spend the early hours unsure whether to send him to school or not.  Sure, we lived in an itty, bitty town so nothing would probably happen but I didn’t want him out of my sight either.  I remember he stayed home 2 or 3 days until the principal called the parents and asked them to please send the children to school so they could get back to normalcy.

Remember the date. Honor the victims. Salute our soldiers.

The best way to remember is to have a family plan for emergencies. Do you have a plan?

Jill James

Bookends Literary Agency

Bookends Literary Agency

A great literary agency run by Jessica Faust, Kim Lionetti, and Jacky Sachs.  The best part of the agency is the blog where terrific insider info is posted week after week. What do agents mean when they say no?  What are they looking for when they say different but the same?  What is hot this season? What can agents do for you?  This blog is well worth your  time to bloghop to each day.

Jill James