Authors of the Free World Interview

*This was originally posted on Authors of the Free World website here, but I will post it.

Author Interview – Marie Lavender

May 24, 2013 Written by Nick LeVar author interviews

 

Marie Lavender

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats, and she has been writing for over twenty years, with more works in progress than she can count on two hands. At the age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests  and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer.

While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book. Since then, Marie has published sixteen books. Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction, and dabbled in paranormal stories. Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them. Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel. Feel free to visit her website for more information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   

Nick: What genres do you like to read?

Marie: I mostly read romance, though I have occasionally read mystery novels and literary fiction. I do read sub-genres of romance like contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance. You’ll laugh at me, but I do have a thing for vampire books if they have a love story. Not like Twilight [SN: Thank God!] at all, but I do like J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series and P.C. Cast’s House of Night series.

Nick: Who is that one person, if anyone, that you lean on for guidance and support?

Marie: My fiance. He’s my rock. If I need advice, I go to him. If I’m feeling down, he knows just what to say to bring me back up. I love that man.

Nick: Do you believe in reading to improve your writing?

Marie: Definitely! I think reading shapes our work. In the beginning of our careers, it gives us a better idea of how certain genres are written: what is acceptable and what is not, even though best-selling authors seem to get away with more in the industry. (laughs.) I also think that we store all of this information in our heads from what we read, whether it’s fact or fiction, and that mixture of “stuff” in our heads keeps the ideas generating. Not that we steal ideas or anything, but I think you can build further on what’s already out there. Sometimes, you get an idea and you have no clue where it came from, and yet you’re really passionate about it. Maybe it is just your muse urging you on. Maybe it’s something else. Who knows?

Nick: Give us a brief synopsis of your latest work.

Marie: Upon Your Return is my newest release. It is actually my only traditionally published book right now.  It was released in February through Solstice Publishing.

Upon Your Return

Upon Your Return is a historical romance about a young woman, Fara Bellamont, who gets into a lot of trouble by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is saved by a captain named Grant Hill, and during the course of the novel, she not only has to contend with her feelings for him, she has to worry about how society will view her for associating with him. Lots of obstacles stand in the way of her happiness, of course. For any more, you’ll have to read the book! (laughs.)

Nick: What is your process for developing characters? Do you people watch and base characters off of what you see? Or are your characters complete figments of your imagination?

Marie: The little nuances of my characters get developed as I write the story. Sure, I’ll do a character workup sometimes, but the finer details come out later. I do observe people a lot, and of course, that gives me ideas.  And then, sometimes the ideas for my characters just come out of thin air, it seems.

Nick: What inspired you to write your most recent story?

Marie: I would say Upon Your Return was the result of the romantic relationships in my life. I took lessons from those experiences, of course, and shaped my characters and the events that touched them from that. I didn’t realize I was doing that at the time, but I look back on it now and I can see the things that must have made me write it. Not to mention Upon Your Return was a long project, and it took on a life of its own. I fell in love with the characters–even the minor ones–and couldn’t help but follow them to the end of the story. Even I was surprised at where it took them sometimes!

Nick: Is there one story that you’ve written that is so bad, you’ll never let anyone read it?

Marie: As I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid, there are a couple that I’d never want to be published. In the third grade, we had to do some kind of writing project. I had this pretty silly story, and I still have it somewhere. I think it was called “The Mystery of the Ancient Golden Chair”. It was a mystery, of course, but very bad writing. Not really one of my finest! But, I’m sure I learned from that. And there was another one…I think I wrote it in middle school, possibly later. It was called “Trouble in Puerto Rico”. The plot was sub-par, the characters pretty immature and the dialogue was terrible. Never passing that around, I’m telling you. (laughs.)  But, it’s nice to see how far I’ve come.

Nick: Where can potential readers find your work?

Marie: Upon Your Return is available on Solstice, Amazon, CreateSpace, Barnes&Noble, Smashwords and Kobo. My other fifteen (self-published) books are on Amazon and Lulu.com. You can find links to them on my website at http://marielavender.webs.com/.

Marie Lavender: Personal Questions

Nick: Are you a social butterfly or do you prefer to keep social relationships to a minimum?

Marie: I was always kind of shy, really. I’m really not a public domain kind of person. But, I have learned to open up more as my writing career has changed. Social networking has definitely been a big help. So thanks, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter!

Nick: What is the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?

Marie: I was in Choir my whole school career. I did solos. Well, at one performance, I actually forgot the words to the song and ended up singing the previous verse over. I was so mortified! I hope no one noticed, but I’m sure they did. (laughs.)

Marie Lavender: Books and Pen Names

Marie Lavender:  Upon Your Return
Erica Sutherhome:  Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom
Kathryn Layne:  A Misplaced Life
Heather Crouse:  Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things

Marie Lavender, Romance Writer Spotlight with Renee

*This interview originally posted on Reading Renee's website here, but I will post it as well.

30 May 2013

Marie Lavender, Romance Writer #spotlight

by ReadingRenee

Rate This

Today I’m happy to have author Marie Lavender stop by and talk about her latest book.

1. Greetings, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Sure.  I’ve been writing since I was a kid.  I’ve always wanted to be an author.  I have published sixteen books.

2. What genre, or genres, do you write?

I write romances, both contemporary and historical.  I have written literary fiction before, and I am trying to get into writing paranormal stories as well.

3. What is your latest book called and what it is about?

Upon Your Return is a historical romance novel.  It is about a young heiress who gets herself into all kinds of trouble by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This sets off a whole chain of events that is both challenging and compelling.  She has to rely on a strange man for protection, and of course, they cannot help but fall in love.  This book was released in e-book form on February 13th.  The print version will be out in May or June.

4.  If you had to rate your book, would it be G, PG, PG-13, or R?

LOL!  Well, I’d have to say R.  It’s not overly graphic, but I definitely wouldn’t let a child read it.

5.  What makes your book unique?

I think the character, Fara Bellamont, is a pretty strong character who, despite of all the social norms of the time period (Victorian France), still manages to be an individual.  She does not like to be dictated to, and she puts the hero in his place several times.  She makes some decisions that society probably would not have accepted then and she gets a lot of flak for it, but that is what makes her unique.

6.  Do you plot ahead of time, or do you let the plot emerge as you write?

A little of both.  I usually have a good idea of where the story is headed, but I also get surprised at where the characters want to go too.  The longer I write, the more I realize how important all those little things that go into a book are (setting, research, etc.).  So, even if it might take time, I do plot on some level.  I am pretty casual about my writing usually, letting it just come out however it wants, but when I’m focused on a book, I get kind of obsessed with it.  With Perfect Game, one of the books I released under the pen name Erica Sutherhome, I did a ton of research on that, and I think it turned out pretty well, even though when it was just a seedling, I had no idea where it was going.  The books still manage to surprise me!  In high school, if you had told me I’d not only have a historical romance novel published, but be writing the sequels, I’m not sure I would have believed it.

7. Where can we buy your books?

Upon Your Return is available on Amazon and Solstice.  You can also link directly to any of my books through my website at http://www.marielavender.webs.com/   The rest of my books are available through Amazon and Lulu Press.

8. What’s next?

I am working on the sequel to Upon Your Return right now.  It will be titled Upon Your Honor.   I also have plans for many other books in the coming years.  I am working on a romantic suspense, and as aforementioned, I would like to write paranormal books.  I have plans for a couple of series about witches, and two vampire books.

Book Blurb for Upon Your Return

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.

But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.

Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.

Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society in this exciting tale.

Author Bio

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

BUY 

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Your-Return-Marie-Lavender/dp/1484978099/

Solstice:  http://store.solsticepublishing.com/upon-your-return/

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/4284739

Barnes&Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/upon-your-return-marie-lavender/1115291084?ean=2940016439167

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/315796

Kobo:  http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Upon-Your-Return/book-S9j9kHxqnUOxEUK4IkjFRw/page1.html?s=sGcZru_xmE2NIc-tjelWvg&r=1

Character Interview - Fara from Upon Your Return

*This interview originally aired on Mia Darien's site here, but I will go ahead and post it as well.

30 May 2013

Character Interview: Marie Lavender & Fara from ‘Upon Your Return’

Mia

 

Today’s character interview has us joined by Marie Lavender and Fara, from Marie’s story Upon Your Return. Welcome to you both!

* * *

Mia: What is the name of the book where we’ll find you? Can you tell us a little about it?

Fara: The book is Upon Your Return. You could say the book is really about my life, or at least the hardships I must experience to find happiness. I meet Captain Grant Hill and so much happens. It is about my journey to find love, and not just the romantic kind. And despite everything, I do find family.

Mia: Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you fit into the story? What should we know about you?

Fara: Well, I don’t know quite what to say. I suppose I am the main character of the story. I am a girl who dreams of finding a way out of her situation. Even though I know my place, I want so much to find love.

Mia: What do you think of the author? Be honest. We won’t tell.

Fara: That is a hard question. But, since you ask, I will be honest. Marie is a strange girl. Have you heard the music she listens to? You can hardly waltz to it. And she’s nothing like my aunt. Not proper. But, she believes in love as I do, and I like that about her.

Mia: How do you feel about the story you’re in?

Fara: I think this is a good story. When I read it, I remember what I went through and all the negative things that occurred…well, I don’t want to relive that. But, Grant…well, I’ll let you read all about him in the book.

Mia: Do you like being a character in the book?

Fara: I’m not sure. Marie describes me as an eighteen year old girl who hardly acts the way she should. But, what does that matter? I do not want to be like everyone else.

Mia: How do you see your future? Without giving anything away about the story, naturally.

Fara: I always dreamed of going to a place far away and having adventures. If I could have that, that would be so exciting!

Mia: What do you know about your author’s plans? Can we expect to see you in any future stories?

Fara: Yes, I do know a little of her plans, and I’m not sure I agree with her. The lady is going to follow me to see what happens after the book. She talks of writing about my children.

Mia: Let’s say they make a movie about this book. Who do you want to play you, and why?

Fara: Why, I believe Amy Adams would be a good fit. She has the right hair color, you see, and she seems like a pleasant girl.

* * *

Author Bio: Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

Since then, Marie has published sixteen books. Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories. Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them. Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel. Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.webs.com/ for further information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return
Erica Sutherhome: Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom
Kathryn Layne: A Misplaced Life
Heather Crouse: Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things

You can find Marie at her website, her blog, and second blog.

You can buy Upon Your Return from Solstice Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords & Kobo.

Character Interview - Eric from Upon Your Return

*This originally posted on Rebecca L. Frencl's blog here, but I will go ahead and post it as well.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Meet a New Character!

We have a unique opportunity today . . . to hear from a character in the character's own words. Authors usually joke that we listen to the voices in our heads. Well, here's a chance to step into a writer's head and hear what goes on. I always tell people that my brain is a strange place to live. I'm happy I'm not the only one who seems to have these conversations with my characters. So, take a few moments to meet Eric Caron. He's a really interesting character and I, for one, am looking forward to hearing more from him.

Character Interview - Upon Your Return by Heather C.

I am here today with Erica Caron from the book Upon Your Return by Marie Lavender.  Yes, folks, that's right.  I'm doing a character interview.  This man is here in the flesh to give us a little taste of Upon Your Return.

Heather:  I noticed you bowed to me when you came into the room, Eric.  You just don't see that very often these days.  Ladies, I do believe he's blushing!  I didn't mean to embarrass you, Eric.  Let's get started, shall we?

Eric:  Of course, Mademoiselle (says delightfully in his French accent).

Heather:  So, from what I've heard of Upon Your Return, you are Captain Hill's valet?

Eric:  That is correct.

Heather:  And what is that like?  Isn't a valet little more than a servant?

Eric:  (Tries to hide a smile.)  Serving my captain is never a chore, Mademoiselle.  It is a duty I am more than honored to perform.

Heather:  And you are required to say that, I understand.  Come now, Eric, even I know servants are terrible gossips about their employers.

Eric:  You misunderstand, Mademoiselle.  Capitaine Hill is more than my master.  He is my friend.

Heather:  I see.  So, now that we've gotten to the heart of things, what is it you can tell me about the dashing captain?  I hear he's quite a catch (says to the audience).

Eric:  He is a good man, the best of men in my opinion.  You'll never find a better leader to spur his crew into action.  You'll never find a more honorable man.  If there is a cause, he will fight for it.

Heather:  Fascinating.  So, what about Fara Bellamont?  Can you tell me anything about her?

Eric:  (He shrugs.)  I've barely known her at all.

Heather:  But?

Eric:  But, she seems to be a good person.  She has always treated me kindly.  Of course, she shocked me when she spoke so directly to the captain a time or two.  She is an interesting young woman.

Heather:  You meant to say more, didn't you?

Eric:  (He looks uneasy for a moment.)  I suspect Capitaine Hill has feelings for Mademoiselle Bellamont.  But, he has not said so. 

Heather:  Do you think things will work out between them then?

Eric:  I imagine so.  Fate has a way of bringing things about.

Heather:  Well!  That's about all the time we have today.  Eric, it was a pleasure meeting you.

Eric:  The pleasure was all mine, I assure you, Mademoiselle.  (He bows, the leaves the room.)

Heather:  Well, wasn't he something? 

For all our viewers here, just a recap, that was Eric Caron from Upon Your Return.  In case this interview has made you want to read more about Eric, Captain Grant Hill or Fara Bellamont, you can find the book on Amazon, Solstice, CreateSpace, Barnes&Noble, Smashwords and Kobo.

What a fascinating interview!  I know I want to read Upon Your Return!

Blurb for Upon Your Return

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.

But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.

Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.

Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society in this exciting tale.

Purchase Links

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Your-Return-Marie-Lavender/dp/1484978099/

Solstice:  http://store.solsticepublishing.com/upon-your-return/

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/4284739

Barnes&Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/upon-your-return-marie-lavender/1115291084?ean=2940016439167

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/315796

Kobo:  http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Upon-Your-Return/book-S9j9kHxqnUOxEUK4IkjFRw/page1.html?s=sGcZru_xmE2NIc-tjelWvg&r=1

Book Promo on Long Ago Historical Romance Books Blog

*The original link is here, but I will go ahead and post it.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Book Promo - "Upon Your Return" by Marie Lavender

Victorian Era Romance (1863)
Solstice Publishing (February 13, 2013)

Synopsis

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.

But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.

Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.

Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society.

She heard footsteps behind her and she turned, lashing out with her fingernails. She gasped as she saw him howl in pain, lowering his head to reveal red claw marks over the bridge of his nose. Then the man she'd first wounded came at her, tackling her.

The impact jarred her and she went down. “No!” Her escape was not to be.

She rolled to the ground in a maze of skirts and a heavy thigh was thrown across her knees, leaving her immobile. She squeezed her eyes tight. His touch on her face and breasts was repulsive. Tears threatened to overcome her and they ran like tracks into her hair. “Please,” she whispered.

“Ah, gentlemen, what have we here?” An unfamiliar voice sounded and Fara lifted her head weakly to see a new face, a different man. She wondered if he was an ordinary spectator. He didn't look ordinary. He was big, intimidating but not frighteningly so. There was something about him she wanted to trust. She thought it might be his eyes, thought she detected a hint of concern as he glanced at her briefly. But, of course, she might be wrong. She had been before.

The man who pinned her disengaged himself and got to his feet. He looked down at her uneasily. “To your feet, chère,” he ordered.

She dizzily stood in response and he clutched her to his side as if to claim her as his possession.

The stranger frowned. “She's quite a catch, gentlemen. Are you sure she's not off limits?”

The man at her side stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“She appears to be a lady.”

Hope sprang from inside her. The man was no innocent bystander. He was a man with a purpose, but deep down she knew he could not be with these rogues.

“And if she is, Monsieur?”

“Then I would be curious as to why a lady is here with the two of you.”

The one called Bernard replied derisively, “Perhaps we are just too irresistible.”

The man laughed. “Hardly.” He sighed as her captor chose to resume his place behind her and blocked all attempts of escape with an arm across her chest. “Release her, gentlemen. Let's settle this in a civilized manner, shall we?”

The man who held her grunted. “Why don't you go about your business, Monsieur? A simple matter like this shouldn't interest you.”

“A woman's reputation may be at stake. Of course I'm interested.”

“We could share her, Monsieur.”

His gaze swept over her body and shivered. Why, surely he would not take them seriously...he couldn't take the offer. For God's sake, he was her only hope.

Purchase Book Amazon - Upon Your Return Solstice Publishing Create Space Barnes and Noble Smashwords Kobo Books

Contact Author Website: Marie Lavender, Romance Writer Blogs: Marie Lavender Blog and Marie Lavender Books Facebook Facebook Page Upon Your Return LinkedIn  Twitter Goodreads The Romance Reviews

The Journey to Publishing

*This was originally a guest post on Stefan Vucak's blog.  The link is here, but I will post the article below as well.

A guest post by Marie Lavender

The journey to publishing can be long and harrowing.  I sit here over twenty years into my career as a writer, and I can look back on it both fondly and regretfully.  Why twenty years?  Well, let’s just say I’m counting back to the moment I wanted to become a writer/author/novelist.  Lots of nice names for it, but I digress.  I think one of my colleagues recently stated that anyone can be a writer, whether they are attempting to write the Great American novel (ahem!) or jotting down the ingredients to a recipe, and it is an altogether different thing to be an author.  I have to agree in a way, except I tend to use writer as a general term more than anything.  And you may ask why I say “regretfully” when I have published sixteen books.  I just wonder if I would have done things differently if I knew then what I know now.  But, that’s neither here nor there.

In my youth, I was a writer.  I created fantasy worlds both in child’s play and yes, even on the page.  How did I come to feel the urge to be a writer at such an age?  That’s far too complicated a subject to go into, and even today, I can’t tell you why I let the pen scrawl across the page at its leisure, or why I have published what I have.  The urge to write has always been there and there’s no stopping it.  But again, I digress.

After such an arduous journey, a journey I’m positive is bound to have more twists and turns, I can say one word.  Whew!  How did that happen?  And what brought me here?  I suppose I feel a mixture of pride and well, to give you a pretty bad metaphor, scraped knees.  This tiresome journey, which is still hardly over, was worth if, of course.  But, the steps I had to take to get there?  Wow.  I wish someone had taken my nine-year old self aside and said, “Look, I know you’re stubborn and you’re going to do this anyway, but this won’t be easy.  You’re going to need perseverance and nerves of steel.”  I’ll come back to those terms later, but would I have listened?  I don’t know.  Probably not.  I was in that dreamlike state.  I had wonder in my eyes when I dreamed of being an author.  So, I’m sure you get that.  I’ve established I was a dreamer then.  Hell, I still am in some ways, a fact that can frustrate my family to no end.  It’s hard not to be as a writer.  And I don’t want to lose that.

So, where was I?  Oh, yes.  How do you really get published on this journey?  Well, there’s no clear-cut method.  There are no guarantees in life.  We all know that.  So, the most I can offer up is a little advice.  I’m sure you’ve all heard the requirements a million times:  finish your book, edit the crap out of it, write an amazing query letter and synopsis, get a literary agent, and, well, get published, damnit!  So, I’m not going to bore you with the details.  We’ve all read the tips.  We’ve done the dance, or at least we’re working on it, right? 

So, what is the key?  What makes you stand out from the million or so other aspiring authors out there?

I don’t know.  That’s right.  I really said that.  The truth is, the publishing journey, however harrowing, is different for everyone.  I would say most of us struggle with it.  But, you pick up things as you go, things that will help you improve your writing and how you go about getting published.

So what, if any, advice can I offer you?  I don’t have all the answers.  Who does?  But, I can offer some things that will make the publishing journey slightly less difficult.

After your book is written, you want to shout out loud because it’s a major accomplishment.  And it is!  So pat yourself on the back.  Reward yourself somehow.  Then comes the next arduous step.  Editing.  Yes, the dreaded word.  Editing.  Even though the book is finished, there’s more to do.  Go over it a million times.  And yes, it will feel like a million.  But, if you love it, it won’t hurt that much to read it over and over.  Take a step back occasionally.  When you return, you may see it in a different light.  You’ll find new errors. 

The important thing to do at the editing stage is to get a critique partner.  Or several.  Maybe you have a local group you use.  No?  Yahoo has some nice critique groups.  And yes, you will have to return the favor and read someone else’s work.  Critique groups were not a foreign concept to me as I majored in Creative Writing in college.  But, it’s still a necessity in the editing process.  You may not agree with everything they have to say, but it definitely helps.  You can also have these groups look over your synopsis and query letter.  You can pay an editing service to do it for you, but they may not be familiar enough with your genre to give you what you need to hear.  Not to mention who has that kind of cash lying around?  Edit as much as you can.  If you do get published traditionally, your editor will thank you for it.  You just made his job a little easier. 

A natural next step after editing is…yes, you guessed it: find a literary agent, or at least a publisher who will take you on without one.  And there aren’t many of those.  I have to side with the naysayers about literary agents.  Though they can certainly get your foot in the door, it is not easy to obtain one.  Literary agents are a different breed.  Yes, they are familiar with the industry.  They know what sells.  Each one, however, knows exactly what they ‘re looking for, and in some cases, your book won’t fall into that category.  Prepare yourself for rejections, or at least form letters stating, “this is not a good fit for me…” Blah, blah, blah.  Believe me, I had about thirty of them.  And those were the ones that bothered to respond.  I’m not saying you can’t get lucky, that someone can’t get a literary agent.  I’m sure it happens. 

The advice I can offer here is simple.  There are two words.  QueryTracker and Pred-ed.  What?  No, I’m not speaking a different language. 

Querytracker.net is a nifty site that not only helps you organize your submissions and keeps you from submitting to the same agent/agency twice, it also gives you a list of agents and publishers specific to the genre of your book.  And QueryTracker is simple to use.  You just sign up for an account (I recommend the free one), and from then on, you can search for what you want.  If you’ve submitted to an agency, you mark it as a submission for a certain agent, give the date and details and it is saved for you for future reference.  You can even go back and mark if it was rejected, if a partial or full manuscript is requested, etc.  This site also gives you a basic idea about what each agent is looking for, and some authors have even left comments.  Of course, you’ll have to double-check on the agency’s website to be sure that agent is still working in that genre.  But QueryTracker will save you a lot of headaches.  Before I found it, I was marking everything in a Word document, and I sometimes forgot to check it.  Afterward, the tool helped me avoid sending to the same places.

The other tool, which I absolutely swear by for many reasons, is Pred-ed.com.  Preditors & Editors (yes, it’s spelled that way) is a website that takes the guesswork out of the industry.  Do you want to get an agent or publisher that won’t expect you to dish out money upfront?  They’ve got it covered.  This site has lists of resources on everything you can imagine.  More importantly, it will let you research agencies and publishers.  Preditors & Editors (or P&E, as the moderators affectionately name it) bases their findings on actual reports from authors.  You may want to stick to places that are “recommended”, because those are the best, and they’re certain to get you exactly what you want in an agent or publisher.  P&E has many categories to choose from, and you won’t be disappointed at the plethora of information stored there.  Notice I have not said these tools will fix all your problems.  They sure won’t, but they’ll definitely help during your submission stage.  The rest is up to you.

The publishing journey is not easy.  You’ll have roadblocks.  You’ll take detours.  I think anyone who has a solid manuscript with a compelling story deserves to get published.  Unfortunately, life rarely hands us exactly what we want.  We have to go out and get it.  Sometimes we have to dig hard to find that gem.  Remember that word I used before?  I don’t expect you to after all of my babbling.  Perseverance.  Perseverance will help you along the way.  Because, if you get pushed down and you have the ability to brush it off and keep going, there is hope for you.  You have what it takes to get published.  Again, there is no clear method.  What works for one writer may be totally inapplicable for someone else.  The last thing I can say is, perseverance is only one thing. 

Nerves of steel are almost essential.  You’ll get some bad responses, if you’re lucky enough to get them from an editor or agent.  Or maybe it came from a peer or critique partner.  Are you a sensitive soul?  Get tough.  Honestly evaluate what is said in relation to your book, of course, and change something if necessary.  But, don’t take it personally.  Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and if we all agreed, we’d be robots.  There is no room for hurt feelings in this business.  Believe me, I am a sensitive person, and I take things personally.  But, I’ve had to toughen up a lot. 

Don’t worry, though.  You will learn as you go.  I’m still learning.  We learn new things each day, new ways to write or cope with losses.  It is a harrowing journey, but it can be positive too.  Hopefully, when you sign your contract, you can look back at your journey and see what led you there.  Or maybe you end up self-publishing.  That’s a topic for another day. 

The journey is hard.  Even if yours is easy, you are one of the lucky ones.  For those who don’t have it easy, hopefully my words have brought you a measure of hope.  Happy writing!  And don’t stop trying.

Guest Blogger Bio

Marie Lavender has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. She has published sixteen books. Marie’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories.  Her most recent release, Upon Your Return, a historical romance, was published in February with Solstice Publishing.      
                                                                                                                     
Website:  http://www.marielavender.webs.com/ 
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/marielavender1

How Do You Juggle Being A Writer?

*This was originally a guest post on Rebecca L. Frencl's blog.  You can link here for the original article, but I will post it below as well.

Friday, May 3, 2013

How Do You Juggle Being A Writer?--A Guest Post by Marie Lavender 

 

Well, if it hasn’t been said a million times, I’ll say it again.  Life is hard.  Why did we become writers if we had to juggle so many things at once?  Bills, family, deadlines, side jobs if we have them.  It’s a load of fun, right?  Right.  I suppose we did it for the benefits, not the monetary ones, of course.  Many writers just do it for the love of writing, for the brush of your hand across the page as the pen flows (or in the digital age, I guess that would be your fingers on the keyboard click, click, clicking away).  Perhaps we do it to feel that sense of accomplishment, that after writing a scene or a chapter, we can sit back and say, “Wow, did I do that?”  So, yes, it’s satisfying on a lot of levels.

But, then there are the disadvantages.  They didn’t tell us we’d have to go nuts because getting into the industry wasn’t a piece of cake.  They didn’t tell us we’d have to figure out how to write and still support ourselves.  They didn’t tell us we’d have to do social networking to market ourselves or launch blogs (though I really mainly did that for fun).  They didn’t tell us we’d have to find the time to write amongst all the other demands of life.

So, how do you do it?  Find the time to write, that is.  Nowadays, we have constant distractions.  Not that there weren’t any before.  But, it’s a bit more intense.  There’s family, of course.  How do you still devote yourself to your family and yet do that thing that you truly crave, that you need to do?  WRITE.  How do you write when you have other obligations?  Oh, and I don’t mean just the familial ones.  I mean, most writers at the start of their careers have to supplement their income somehow.  Or maybe in a marriage, you share that, but you still have to have a job on the side.  So, outside of a full-time or part-time job, how do you still find the time to sit down and write your heart out? 

Somehow you do.  You just try.  I know.  A lot of you must be thinking, “Ha!  Is this lady nuts?  Trying doesn’t do it.”  Yeah, it’s easier said than done.  But, if you just try, even if it’s for a few minutes to a half hour, you will have accomplished something in your day.  And yes, there are always distractions that pull us away.  Maybe your kid needs help with his homework.  Maybe you really need to make something to eat.  Maybe you really need to get some groceries.  Maybe that pile of bills is really calling to you.  “Please pay us!”  Trust me, ten minutes or so here or there isn’t going to kill you.  It won’t kill anyone else either. 

I live with about a million distractions.  I have had to multitask.  I have had to prioritize my life in so many ways, I still shake my head at the mess.  Is it chaotic?  Yes.  Does your writing thank you for it?  No.  But, you will thank yourself.  You just accomplished something a lot of people may set out to do in life, but may never get the chance to do.  When you hold that final manuscript in your hands (or see it on your screen), you get to feel that sense of WOW.  You think, “Finally, I did it.  I’ve been working this hard, and here it is.”  Of course, then you have to go to the trouble to edit it like crazy, or submit the damn thing to about a million agents and publishers.  But, that’s a spiel for another day.  What you see before you is a work not in-progress as we like to call it, but a work accomplished.  Good job!  Way to go!  You have met a milestone on your agenda.

Your job will make its demands on you.  Your family will demand of you.  It will seem like the world is trying to just make your life harder.  But, if you try to slice out a little piece of time for yourself to write every day if you can, you will be much happier in the long run.  I promise.  But, don’t just take my word for it.  Try it!

AUTHOR BIO

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats.  She has been writing for over twenty years.  She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories.  Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play.  Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one.  She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer.  While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal.  After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

Since then, Marie has published sixteen books.  Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories.  Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them.  Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel.  Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.webs.com/ for further information about her books and her life.  Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender:  Upon Your Return

Erica Sutherhome:  Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom

Kathryn Layne:  A Misplaced Life

Heather Crouse:  Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things

 

Interview with Marie Lavender by Tell Cotten

*This interview was originally conducted on Tell Cotten's blog.  The link is here, but I will post it below.

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Tell Cotten

 

Today I’m happy to have author Marie Lavender stop by and talk about her latest book.

1. Greetings, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Sure.  I’ve been writing since I was a kid.  I’ve always wanted to be an author.  I have published sixteen books.

2. What genre, or genres, do you write?

I write romances, both contemporary and historical.  I have written literary fiction before, and I am trying to get into writing paranormal stories as well.

3. What is your latest book called and what it is about?

Upon Your Return is a historical romance novel.  It is about a young heiress who gets herself into all kinds of trouble by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This sets off a whole chain of events that is both challenging and compelling.  She has to rely on a strange man for protection, and of course, they cannot help but fall in love.  This book was released in e-book form on February 13^th.  The print version will be out in May or June.

4.  If you had to rate your book, would it be G, PG, PG-13, or R?


LOL!  Well, I’d have to say R.  It’s not overly graphic, but I definitely wouldn’t let a child read it.

5.  What makes your book unique?

I think the character, Fara Bellamont, is a pretty strong character who, despite of all the social norms of the time period (Victorian France), still manages to be an individual.  She does not like to be dictated to, and she puts the hero in his place several times.  She makes some decisions that society probably would not have accepted then and she gets a lot of flak for it, but that is what makes her unique.

6.  Do you plot ahead of time, or do you let the plot emerge as you write?

A little of both.  I usually have a good idea of where the story is headed, but I also get surprised at where the characters want to go too.  The longer I write, the more I realize how important all those little things that go into a book are (setting, research, etc.).  So, even if it might take time, I do plot on some level.  I am pretty casual about my writing usually, letting it just come out however it wants, but when I’m focused on a book, I get kind of obsessed with it.  With Perfect Game, one of the books I released under the pen name Erica Sutherhome, I did a ton of research on that, and I think it turned out pretty well, even though when it was just a seedling, I had no idea where it was going.  The books still manage to surprise me!  In high school, if you had told me I’d not only have a historical romance novel published, but be writing the sequels, I’m not sure I would have believed it.

7. Where can we buy your books?

Upon Your Return is available on Amazon and Solstice.  You can also link directly to any of my books through my website at http://www.marielavender.webs.com/   The rest of my books are available through Amazon and Lulu Press.

8. What’s next?

I am working on the sequel to Upon Your Return right now.  It will be titled Upon Your Honor.   I also have plans for many other books in the coming years.  I am working on a romantic suspense, and as aforementioned, I would like to write paranormal books.  I have plans for a couple of series about witches, and two vampire books.

Book Blurb for Upon Your Return

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.

But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.

Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.

Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society in this exciting tale.

Author Bio

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

Author Interview – Marie Lavender by Imagineer

*This interview was originally conducted by Imagineer on his site.  The link is here, but I will post it below as well.

Posted on the 17 April 2013 by Imagineer 
 

I’d like to offer a warm welcome to Romance author Marie Lavender!  I feel confident that you will enjoy the following interview.  Personally, I can relate to so many things Marie has to say.

 

When did you first discover the desire to write was so strong in you?

Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be an author. I began writing stories at the age of nine and really never stopped. I had a pretty big imagination, and even when I was a small child, I entertained myself with play worlds including characters and plots. It’s no wonder that’s what I ended up wanting to do.

Do you usually write in the same genre you tend to prefer to read?

Yes, for the most part. I love reading romance novels, and I definitely write them. Though I read a lot of different sub-genres such as contemporary, historical and paranormal. I have written in these sub-genres as well.

When reading, do you prefer traditional printed books or ebooks?

Though I am coming to accept the prevalence of digital technology, I have a definite preference for traditional books. I love the texture, and I love collecting them. I want a huge library at some point!

Have you been influenced and/or inspired by another writer, or writers?

Of course! I have been influenced by Catherine Coulter, Jennifer Blake, Nora Roberts, Emma Wildes, Tessa Dare and Nicholas Sparks. These are some of my favourite authors as well. I have also been inspired by classic authors such as Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte.

Do past or current events in your life have an influence on your writing?

I believe that my experiences have fashioned me as a writer, in a way. Sometimes I can look back through what I’ve written and track where I was in my life based on what is there. So, I think events, either past or present, have a definite effect on an author.

Have you got a favourite author, who stands well ahead of all others?

For historical romance, I would choose Jennifer Blake or Catherine Coulter. For contemporary romance, probably it would have to be Nora Roberts. For paranormal romance, I definitely love J.R. Ward.

Have you got both printed and digital books published?

Yes, I do. I have published sixteen books under various pen names. Nearly all are available in print and digital forms. My last release, Upon Your Return, is available in e-book format, and the print version will be coming out in May or June. You can find information on the rest of my books at marielavender.webs.com.

Do you try to write to satisfy what is fashionable, or do you write pieces that you would want to read?

Though I have wondered if there is a niche for some of my works, I mainly write what comes out, what makes me passionate to write about. My ideas just come to me randomly so I just write and hope that someone will want to read it. After a manuscript is finished, then I can worry about whether there is an audience for it. Someone told me once, “You do what you have to do. You write for yourself, not to please anyone else.” I didn’t get into it for money or anything trivial. I just write because I love writing.

How do you fit writing into your life? Do you have set times for writing?

That is an interesting question. My life feels so hectic sometimes! The best thing to say to that is that I just try. I try to set aside time every day to write, no matter when it is. I am a night owl so I do end up writing in the evening quite a lot, but I have been known to write during the day as well. Sometimes the mood just strikes me, and I have to write or it will drive me crazy.

Do you keep every jotting of ideas, just in case they might be developed at some later date?
I keep journals. I write everything down. I also keep files, digital and hard copy, even for my less developed ideas. I never seem to run out of ideas. They come to me all the time, even when I am focused on a specific project.

Do you write freeform or do you faithfully plan every piece meticulously before you start on a piece?

I write as I go. Scenes come to me in pretty much any order in a story, and I figure the rest out later. Though I might have a good idea about the main point of a book, what happens is just as surprising to me as the reader. Sometimes I go back and do my research and add those details in later. Sometimes I do research as I go. It depends on the book. Yes, I know preparation is best for some writers. But, I can’t turn off the muse.

When writing, most authors now use a computer of some description. Which do you find more satisfying: writing using any means available, using a computer, using a typewriter or using a pen/pencil?

Someone called me a Luddite once because I preferred writing in pen rather than composing on the computer. And some days, I still do. I like the texture of the paper as your pen goes across the page. I like to see handwritten documents. But, I have grown to accommodate myself to technology, and I just as easily compose on my PC.

Have you ever been somewhere and discovered a copy of a book that’s extremely difficult to find, and drooled over the discovery?

Yes, I believe I have. Since I was a kid, I’ve always been fascinated with the written word. I collect books, as aforementioned. So, I believe I did find something in an antique store once. It was only a 1947 copy of American folk songs, but I still found that interesting. I also visit used-book stores from time to time. My shelves are full of used-books with yellowed pages and crinkled corners. I find most of my rare purchases online though. I would love to purchase older books, like classic novels. I don’t know much about preservation, but I would definitely like to add them to my collection.

If you’ve had books published in print form, have you ever come across a copy of one of your own books by accident?

It’s funny you mention that! Fifteen of my books were published through Lulu Press. And my latest book is through Solstice Publishing. My books can be found on Amazon, Lulu.com or Solstice.com. Where was I going with that? I’m getting there. I found out that an independent seller was trying to sell two copies of my books through Amazon for an ungodly amount of money. I don’t know who it is, but I just found that kind of comical.
What is your greatest ambition in writing?

I’d like to see my books in stores someday. Just that satisfaction would be enough for me. I don’t have to make millions. The other thing is I just want to write, and I want to feel I have made an impact on someone’s life. Maybe something a character went through really made the reader think. If I got a response like that, that would mean a lot to me. My goal for now, though, is to complete The Heiresses in Love series.

Where can readers find out more about your works?

You can visit my website at marielavender.webs.com. I also have blogs at marielavender.blogspot.com and marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com. All of my books are on Amazon. You can also follow my pages or connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

---

Author Bio

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats.  She has been writing for over twenty years.  She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.  At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories.  Her imagination fuelled a lot of her early child’s play.  Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one.  She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer.  While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal.  After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

Since then, Marie has published sixteen books. Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories.  Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them.  Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel.  free to visit her website at marielavender.webs.com for further information about her books and her life.  Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender:  Upon Your Return
Erica Sutherhome:  Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom
Kathryn Layne:  A Misplaced Life
Heather Crouse:  Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things