The Top 10 Best Birthday Presents for a Writer

Today is my birthday and I thought I’d share the top things that would be on my “author’s perfect present wish list.”  I think this list is relatively universal for all writers, and you’ll see that some of them are slightly selfish and some are not. If you know a writer – just keep this list handy. You’ll be able to make his or her day, I promise!

Spoiler: do read all the way down to Number One – because that one is definitely NOT about me; it’s all about you!

#10. A project she loves.

A “real” writer can write about anything, but an inspired writer needs a project she’s fallen in love with. I’m working on three projects I love. The first is a novella called “Missing One Angel” that will be released on November 4, 2019 as part of a cool, romantic suspense box set. I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow.

#9. Time

I’m guessing this birthday wish wouldn’t even be limited to writers! Don’t we all want more time? Still, there’s never enough hours in any given day or week to get all the writing projects, marketing, and reader events in and done without pushing up against a deadline. Writer’s totally crave time!

    

#8 The ability to say “no.”

Yeah. Not every writer has this problem—but extroverted ones (like I am) do. We love to help others. We love to participate in every reader event. We love to talk to our readers online. We love to volunteer. Plus—we love our families and we don’t want to say no to anything that might take away time from them (especially if there are grandchildren involved—just sayin’). So—we would love to get a genie in a lamp that would pop out every time we started to say “yes” and help us re-evaluate.

#7 A supportive family

This is so important for a writer and, I have to admit (or maybe brag?) that I have THE most supportive family in the world. My mother reads all my books. My brother—the last guy you’d ever think would read a romance—is literally the first one to finish any new book I publish. And my husband? He tells me all the time how proud he is of me—and there’s nothing better than that. PLUS HE COOKS. Need I say more? So—nobody needs to buy me this present; I already have it!

#6 Great writing partners

We call these amazing people critique partners and beta readers. Our fondest wish is to have a handful of people who will be honest but kind when they read our manuscript and who help it become the very best it can be. I started out my author journey with an amazing critique group and the four of us are all published! We no longer meet, but I still have great beta readers.

#5 Fans who aren’t your mom

It’s great to have family support, but there is still nothing more gratifying than having someone who isn’t related to you at all tell you that your book made them laugh, made them happy or, the most amazing thing of all: tell you that your book made them think about something differently, or got them through a rough time. I would definitely take as many iterations of this present as I could get. (I.e., this is a selfish desire!)

#4 Having your mom be your biggest fan

If you’re lucky enough to be an author whose mom is still alive, then I don’t think there’s anything better than having her tell you that she loves your books. My mom is 90 years old and reads every one of my stories. Then she raves about them. Then she sends them to all her friends! At that point—there is nothing that makes me feel better about myself or my writing. As old as I am, I still melt over my mom’s praise! (So—I already have this present, too!)

#3 A dedicated review team

Every author in the world craves a group of fans who want to read Advanced Reader Copies of her book and then be willing to post reviews. Seriously, this is not just a selfish wish, it’s the Holy Grail of author-dom. Without super fans, books don’t sell. So—again, this is a present that would keep on giving and an author would love!

#2 Nice reviews

This follows number three above, of course. Every author loves a good review, because it validates all the work and love we put into our books. That’s another selfish wish :-D But, no author expects to be able to please every reader every time, so most of us aren’t upset by the odd one- or two-star review. The only thing we really ask? If you can’t finish the book, don’t give it a review. That’s not really fair. A “Did Not Finish” is fine. And, if you finish our book and can only give it a one-star, then go for it. That’s totally fair!

And….the #1 best birthday present for an author?

It’s one she gives! It’s to share presents with her readers.

I truly do love giving things away! So—to celebrate my birthday I have an e-copy of my most recent book “Missing by a Heartbeat” for one commenter. All you have to do is tell me what present you’d love to have on your next birthday.

Join me tomorrow here on GLIAS to hear all about my new novella, the Box Set it will be part of that you can pre-order now, the awesome bonus free books you can get when you do order, and the very special charity you can support as well when you order.  Meanwhile, thanks for stopping by here today celebrate my birthday day!

Everything I Learned About Romance I Learned From Hallmark Movies

I don’t know whether I’m proud or embarrassed to tell you that I am completely caught up on Hallmark Movies this year. And…I even have a T-shirt labeled “This is my Hallmark Christmas Movie Watching Shirt.” (I got it from my sis-in-law, so I’m not totally to blame.)

I can’t believe what an amazing empire Hallmark has created with its movie division—every holiday now has its own slate of original movie premiers. But there is none bigger than the Christmas dynasty. According to the Hallmark Movie App there were 21 movies scheduled on “Countdown to Christmas,” the Hallmark Channel and 17 movies scheduled on “Miracle of Christmas,” the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel. (In this house we even go to Lifetime and Ion channels to find holiday flicks—but we won’t really go there right now. It’s an addiction.)  That makes 38 new Christmas movies. Fairly unbelievable.

But what does this say about us—those who love these formulaic stories? Keep in mind that every single one of the stories is about finding the meaning and magic of Christmas through love. In other words, these are romances pure and simple. To me that means that we need romance more than ever in our lives, and those of us who read and write romance have chosen an important avocation and vocation!

Don’t get me wrong – I know these stories are pure cliché. All you have to do is Google-search “Hallmark Christmas movie drinking game,” and you’ll get a list of the clichés you’ll find in every movie: 

TAKE A DRINK WHEN…

·         A character’s name is related to Christmas (Holly, Nick…)

·         There’s mistletoe

·         A newcomer takes part in a town/family tradition

·         There’s reference to a dead relative

·         A big city person is transplanted to a small town

·         You hear “Jingle Bells”

·         Someone drinks hot cider, chocolate or eggnog

·         A magical deal is made with Santa or an angel

·         The Christmas cynic is filled with the holiday spirit

·         There’s magically snow on Christmas day

And we’ve added our own drinkable moments to the list:

·         There’s ice skating

·         A kiss is interrupted

·         An overheard phone call is misinterpreted

·         Someone has a deadline on Christmas Eve

My husband loves these shows and will watch them all on his own without me. But he’s now so schooled in the art of the romance/Christmas trope that he can predict every step of every movie right along with me. My family has decided that he and my brother (also a Hallmark addict) must write a Hallmark-like story for us to read aloud next Christmas.

So why do writers love Hallmark movies despite their inevitable “sameness” one to the other? Because we LEARN from them how to write a basic romance story. Every element is right there to study:  beginning, middle, conflict, black moment, happily-ever-after. They are master classes in building the skeleton of a romance book!

Why do non-writers love these movies so much that Hallmark knows it can sustain 38 movies a year? Because these are simple, pure, often silly stories that require no emotion other than happiness. We live in a world that’s so filled with aggravation, confrontation, even downright hate, that these Christmas movies give us feel-good hope. And I, for one, hope that Hallmark continues to find and grow their audience.

I have a few favorite movies from this year, and many from past years as well. From this year, “Once Upon a Christmas Miracle” was all about a woman who needed a partial live liver transplant and fell in love with her donor—it could have been really stupid, but it was sweet. “Christmas Everlasting” was about a woman who returns home after her sister dies only to learn that the sister gave a baby up for adoption years ago. The whole movie is very tender!

From previous seasons I love “A Very Merry Mix-up” where a woman traveling to meet her future in-laws winds up at the wrong house and falls in love with the wrong family. Everything about it is just too adorable.  And I adore all the royalty movies:  “A Princess for Christmas” is awesome, starring Jamie Fraser himself, Sam Heughan, along with a fairly decrepit Roger Moore—but he’s wonderful anyhow.

The list goes on! I’m just plain a goof for Hallmark Christmas.  So---do you watch Christmas movies? Do you have a favorite? A favorite star? Please let me know what you love or hate about the whole Christmas movie genre. And whatever your feelings are—I wish you the very happiest of holidays!

Writing at Christmastime

What a difference a year makes!
Last year I was an author in crisis--on a huge deadline right at Christmas (book due December 26th) with no time to sit back and enjoy my favorite time of year.

I've always loved decorating my house. The holidays are a totally fun excuse for pulling out all my kitschy Santa, ornament, and ribbon stuff and blinging out the house in red and green. It's also, for hubby, a reason to make every room smell like cinnamon with a spicy red candle!

But last year I had no time for blinging out anything except the end of my book, and believe me that didn't feel much like bling. It was more like the
seventh circle of heck--it was a torture making me act a whole lot more like Ebenezer Scrooge than the forgiving Bob Cratchit. I wrote every free minute, I shopped the week before Christmas and bit my nails hoping things would arrive on time. I tossed up a few decorations that week, too, so it would look a tiny bit festive when my family arrived on Christmas morning. I gave myself Christmas Day off but then went back to work the next morning and was actually a day late turning in my manuscript.

Can I just say--Christmas was no fun last year.

So what did I do about it? I planned slightly better and gave myself all of this December off! I am so excited to find the fun in Christmas again. My house is decorated, my shopping is not done but is certainly well underway compared to last year. I've actually watched the Hallmark movie as they've come out. I've smiled and literally voiced the phrase "God bless us every one." (Okay, that's Tiny Tim Cratchit not Bob, but you get the idea.)

A writer's life is not always glamor and worldbuilding. The job of writing is like every job in the world--sometimes it's wonderful; sometimes you want to tell your boss (even if it's you) to shove it. I'm hoping that you will take a lesson from me and, whatever you have going on in your life, take time to enjoy the holidays. Whether you celebrate big or small, are by yourself or have a huge family, don't let outside pressures rob you of time to pull out your kitsch and thank the Lord for this time of year. Whatever holiday you celebrate--celebrate with joy!

And read a wonderful book! Your favorite authors have worked hard to bring it to you. But not at Christmas!! Here are some of the holiday decorations I got up this year. Remember as you view them--it's been two years (more in some cases) since they saw the light!

Happy Holidays, GLIAS friends. Tell me all about your favorite, relaxing holiday traditions.

On the Writer's Road: "Where Do You Get Your Ideas?"

For the past month I’ve been introducing GLIAS readers to some of the unique experiences their favorite authors go through when writing and promoting a book. On the Writer’s Road is sometimes a fun place to be and other times a really frustrating place to be, but it’s definitely always interesting. Especially when readers ask questions! One of the most often-asked questions is “Where do you get the ideas for your books?”

Writers always have vague, rote answers but I got to thinking about specifically where story ideas come from and although there are truly limitless answers, I came up with five of the most common ways stories are born.

Traveling

Every time I go anywhere, be it to the store or across an ocean, I can find the seeds of a story. Sometimes an interaction at Target can spawn a conversation in a book. My husband and I still tent camp and I have used the sights, smells, and experiences of being in the woods in several of my books. The most current example of turning travel into story is my hiking trip to Scotland a year ago. Because of that trip I am writing a completely new contemporary Scottish series.  

Above and below: The bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

The Highlands

Pictures of Celebrities

How many people don’t fantasize about singers, movie stars, athletes, and other well-known figures? Not many! The difference a writer brings to her fantasies is that we write them down! I’ve had so many celebs “star” in my books that sometimes I’m embarrassed to say who they are. But not most of the time. Here are a few of my favorite stars turned book heroes!!

Brainstorming

Working with other writers is a gift all authors love to get—and give. Sometimes just talking about the thread of an idea can spur a group of writers to weave entire stories by bouncing ideas off one another. Same for solving a sticky situation in a book that’s underway. One of my favorite moments of brainstorming came when working on

Personal Experience

“Write what you know,” is advice authors are given all the time. We don’t always take it, because it’s super fun to research someplace you’ve never been and then write about it. Still, drawing on things we know is very often the best way to create characters, to describe settings, and to really be able to make a story authentic. My first series “Love From Kennison Falls,” is set in southern Minnesota. I know exactly what the scenery looks like, I know what farms in the area look like, I can describe any kind of weather. Why? Because I live there! For the same reason I always have horses or equines of some kind in my books because I’ve had horses most of my life. When we’re an “expert” in something—we definitely use it.

Pure Imagination

Finally, sometimes we purely and simply make stuff up! A prince comes to town, a plague hits the world, we live a hundred years in the future—on a different planet. We can ask ourselves “what if?” and write a whole story based on that. “What if a mutant animal showed up on your deck one afternoon?” “What if you were running head down through a drenching rain and ran smack dab into another person—and he was famous? Or a wanted man? Or a misunderstood teen?” The possibilities are endless.

So—you put all these possible inspirations together and that’s how you come up with a book. A lot of people say they want to write a novel. Most people say they wouldn’t know how to begin. An author is just a person who didn’t stop her imagination once it started going, picked up a pencil and paper, and wrote down the fantasy. It’s a magical thing.

But do you know what an author’s best inspiration of all is? A reader who discovers her books. When we’ve worked hard on a novel and then dare to put it out into the world— it’s like sending a child off to school—the true magic happens when it gets opened. And if the opener is someone who ends up loving the story—that’s the very best way to get a writer to create one more book!

Have you read books that inspired you? How about stories that transport you to a place you never want to leave? I’d love to hear what wonderful things you’ve found in your reading pile!