NaNoWriMo is ALMOST Here!

And the battle between Cam and me for computer time will commence, LOL. That countdown clock on the side is starting to feel a little like a time bomb!

These two published authors, Joely Sue Burkhart and Jenna Reynolds, are amongst my "writing buddies" and the links will take you to their NaNoWriMo related posts.

Lynn Veihl, another published author, is unofficially participating this year and you can find her NaNoWriMo posts here.

Larry Brooks, also a published author, has a phenomenal series about story structure on his blog.

And the NaNoWriMo site itself has tons of references. So why am I putting all this up? Because I don't have anything better to blog about, LOL. No seriously, I hope you'll cheer me and Cam on...maybe even join the madness.

Book Review -- Shadowlight

Shadowlight: A Novel of the Kyndred by Lynn Viehl is the first book of her new Kyndred series which is a spin-off of her Darkyn series that wrapped up earlier this year. I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of Shadowlight, which releases on October 6th. (Published October 2009 by Onyx Books - 336 pages) Genre is Romance (man-woman) with a sub-genre of paranormal.

With a single touch, Jessa Bellamy can see anyone’s darkest secrets. She’s tried to hide her psychic ability from everyone, but a bio tech company called GenHance has discovered her talent, and intends to take her, kill her and harvest her priceless DNA to sell it to the highest bidder.

A mysterious photographer named Gaven Matthias is also interested in Jessa; he’s been trying to find her for months. When GenHance makes their move, Gaven has no choice but to kidnap Jessa himself so he can protect her and convince her to join him in helping protect others like her.

Jessa discovers that she can’t see any of Gaven’s secrets, so she doesn’t know if he’s telling the truth, but as a monstrous assassin created by GenHance’s experiments closes in on them, she must decide if the strong attraction they share is proof enough that Gaven is her greatest ally — or is a smokescreen hiding a terrible secret.

Viehl hits it out of the park again with this continuation in the Darkyn world. This novel builds on the Darkyn world -- even includes a plot line with characters we know and love from the Darkyn series -- but everything is layered so smoothly that new readers won't have any problem starting with this new series. But be warned, you'll want to read the Darkyn series by the time you're done with Shadowlight and waiting for the next Kyndred book!

Shadowlight is an edge-of-the-seat tale with trouble at every turn and characters who find out that everything they thought was true isn't. Viehl's characters are three-dimensional making you understand and even sympathize with them, something not limited to the hero/heroine.

And, of course, there is the romance. The hero, Matthias, was amazing. The mystery of his past is really, really cool. The heroine, Jessa, was a wonderful mix of strength and vulnerability. It's hard to write a review and not give too much away, but I loved these characters. Rowan, a secondary character in this book but heroine in the next, was a special treat. She stole the show more often than not, LOL.

Overall it was a fast-paced read. The set-up was a bit slow with a little back and forth along the time line but well done. I read this in a single day and didn't want it to end. Viehl included the necessary back story without bogging down the pace of this story. And in typical fashion, Viehl threw in an incredible twist at the end hooking me completely (as if I wouldn't continue the series!) into the next book Dreamveil -- which can't come out soon enough.

LB & LI Day 8

Bummed to learn that this year will be the last year Lynn Viehl will be hosting, co-ordinating the LB & LI workshops. Hopefully, someone else will take up the helm for next year. I think I'll be spending a few days checking out all the previous years (and whatever links are still working) and adding all that info to my writing folder.

I've been introduced to a number of new authors through these workshops and have added even MORE books to my ever growing list of books to find and read. I expect more than a few will be destined for my keeper shelf.



Ask PBW Anything

When (This is listed as next in the series but hasn't been posted yet.)

Writer's Block Part 5

Getting Back Into Good Habits and a Last Thought On Plotting (Doesn't really have a lot to do with the workshops.)

GenReality Six authors sharing what it is to be an author. Alison Kent has indicated that the workshops she'd planned for LB & LI will be posted here each Monday. (Not up yet this morning.)

I've also started reading:

On Writing by Stephen King

I think this book has been listed by just about every author out there who has taken the time to note which books are helpful to new writers. Plus I have about ten others on my to buy list.


(There are also some awesome workshops at Romance Divas. They're free but you have to register to get to them.)

LB & LI Day 7

Another fascinating day of workshops.



Agents and Writers

E-publishing: Importance of Cover Art

Consider this your conference goodie bag

Break through your fears and WRITE workshop - The winners, plus a surprise for everyone

Where?

Inspiration Part 4

Write Or Die

Lift Behind Wrap-up

LB & LI Day 6

Had to deal with some insomnia last night, of course it could have just been the stinkin' heat -- didn't get below 90 last night -- or it could have been the fact I was engrossed in a book, LOL. Which worked in the family's favor as they woke up to fresh baking cinnamon rolls this morning. Which also meant I got an early start on the workshops today.



Diversify and Survive

Migration

Break through your fears and WRITE workshop - Part 3: the FREE writer

Have No Fear Part 3

Defining the Basics

Left Behind and the Dark Side of Productivity

Muse Murdered in Cold Ink

LB & LI Day 4 & 5

NEVER miss a day of workshops, even if they are only virtual! Wow, did I have a lot to catch up on today. Loving the workshops Marjorie Liu and Kait Nolan have been doing and now there are even ones on how to write good sex scenes. I know this is a family blog but...

Anyway, Julie you better take advantage of all these links, LOL. And yes, there will be a test later!

Day 4:

E-future Part 2

E-publishing: Email Correspondence with Your Publisher

Writing Transformative Sex Part 1

Birds and Language

Why You're Not Writing

Break through your fears and WRITE workshop - Part 2: come out and play

Searching for Heart Part 2

From Pantser to Plotter: My Conversion Part 2

Writing Sex Scenes That Matter

What eBook Publishers Look For part 2

Left Behind and Managing Crazy

Killer Campaign: Podcast Interviews

Day 5:

Art vs. Life

E-publishing: Promo on the Web

Writing Transformative Sex Part 2

From Pantser to Plotter: Why Plot?

What eBook Publishers Look For part 3

Left Behind in Interesting Times

Killer Campaign: Volunteerism

LB & LI Day Three

Loving all the info I'm gaining from these workshops!



E-Future Part 1

E-Publishing: Time for Edits

The Ten Commandments

Fight! Fight! Fight! & Dialog, Discourse & Subtext. oh my.

Writing in the Labyrinth Part 1

From Pantser to Plotter: My Conversion Part 1

What eBook Publishers Look For

Killer Campaigns: Trading Cards

LB & LI Day Two

Another fascinating day of workshops. I'm especially enjoying the Pantser to Plotter series.

Not that I have any aspirations at this point to get published but it is certainly something that has always hovered in the background. When I do write: I find my characters, scenes, etc. have more depth and passion when I write "by the seat of my pants" (pantser) but the story usually gets bogged down or I get lost in tangents. The one time I wrote using a plot gave me a fuller story but the characters, scenes, etc. fall short and even with revisions never reached pantser quality. I don't seem to be able to combine the two forms into some happy medium I can work successfully with. So I'm really hoping to gain some insight during these workshops.



Middlemarch

E-publishing and the Submission Process

Birds: with a nod to Mr. Hitchcock

Break through your fears and WRITE workshop - Part 1: meet your inner two year old

Who-Two?

From Pantser to Plotter: My Problems with Pantsing

Word Count, Genre, Theme, and Prices on e-Books

Killer Campaign: Marketing Calendar

LB & LI Day One

Today was the first day of Lynn Viehl's Left Behind and Loving It Virtual Writer's Workshop...I'm off to play.



Conceptual Planning, Construction, and Development

E-publishing From Query to Final Edits and Beyond

How-To Books that Saved My Life

Who?

From Pantser to Plotter: Why the Pantser Fears Plotting

About e-Books

E-pubs...Wondering Where to Start?

Killer Campaigns: Business Cards

Virtual Workshop Details from Paperback Writer

Check out the Paperback Writer: LB & LI Details! Those look like awesome subjects and did you note the give-aways? Is she generous or what?! I'm really excited about the 2-part E-publishing workshop because I think if I ever do get around to writing something -- I at least deem worthy -- that would be the way I'd publish. Other authors have been invited to participate as well and I'll be interested to see what offerings they'll have. PBW will post a master list so you can keep track of who's doing what.

It's going to be a busy week!

My Favorite Authors - A Top 10 List

In all honesty, I have too many favorite authors to list but these ladies are all in my current TBR (to be read) pile so here you go in no particular order.

1) Karen Marie Moning Well, not my current TBR but only because I've read everything she's written and am waiting for her latest due out this August.

2) Diana Gabaldon Again, not actually in my current pile but again because I'm waiting on the next book in her Outlander series to come out this September.

3) Charlaine Harris I've read all her Sookie Stackhouse a.k.a. Southern Vampire series and the 9th is due out this year in hardback which likely means (unless I get it from the library) it'll be a year before I'll get to read the next in this series. HBO's Tru Blood is based on these books.

4) Lynn Viehl (including pen names)

5) Angela Knight

6) Jordan Summers I won her book Red from the box o' books and can't wait to read the rest of this series.

7) Holly Lisle

8) Karen Rose

9) Melissa Mayhue

10) Lisa Hendrix