Happy Anniversary Still Moments Publishing!

Are my characters real?

I just watched a movie called Stranger than Fiction. It’s an older film that was new to me. The remarkable revelation throughout became that there may be other authors out there that have the same relationship with their characters as I do.

Recently I was visiting with a friend and as I explained that as I was working through the last of the edits on my release Threat to our Forever from Still Moments Publishing and my characters simply didn’t want to change a scene. Her eyes widened and I could see her worry. Don’t get me wrong, she is a fan of my work and has read everything I’ve written but we had never really discussed the “process.” I think she had a bit of concern that I may be a touch crazy! LOL

Let’s talk about Threat to our Forever from Still Moments Publishing and the main characters Lilly and Sam Kendell. Originally, this book was longer but needed to be trimmed. Why or how do I determine that? I don’t. My characters do. Once they reveal themselves to me, I become a glorified note taker so to speak.

When I began to write TTOF I didn’t have a plot or an outline, I just began writing because the story floated around in my head. The more that flowed out, the more clearly I began to feel the emotions of my characters.

This brings me back to the movie Stranger than Fiction. The hero in the author’s book could hear a narrative of his life and knew how all the authors’ stories ended. He wanted to change the ending. He did that by showing up at her door and telling her who he was.

Believe it or not, Lilly and Sam Kendell did the same thing to me as do my other characters. It’s the process of trying to get real emotions and feelings down on the pages and bring them to life for my reader. When TTOF was finished with edits, I sat down and read it again. To my delight, Lilly and Sam were captured exactly how they wanted to be portrayed and the plot unfolded as they directed. I enjoyed the story and the characters and I think you will too! By the way, I’m not insane, just very devoted to my craft as many other authors are:)
Since we’re celebrating Still Moments Publishing’s first anniversary, grab a book by one of my fellow authors and let them know how you feel about their characters. I promise, your author will love you for it and write more just for you!!

Don't forget I love to get to know my readers so feel free to drop me a note here or email at EmEpe@clearwire.net

Lots of Love

Em

New Release!!!

Very Exciting! My suspense story, Threat To Our Forever that is Book 2 in the Moonlight Mysteries series from Still Moments Publishing will release in just a few more days!
Heres a little enticement:

Lilly and Sam Kendell's marriage is strained to the point of breaking when their daughter becomes a victim of a brutal attack for unknown reasons. Angry and feeling betrayed, Lilly doesn't understand why  Sam won't use his skill as a hired militia to exact revenge for the atrocity committed against them. Sam focuses on facts and protecting Lilly from holding the wrong culprits responsible. Who is the unknown assailant and can they stop the threat? Can their marriage survive?

Still Moments Publishing will be celebrating their One Year Anniversary in May!! Be sure to stop in and check out all the fun. Blog hop, Scavanger hunt, Interviews and so much more...See you there!!!

My Release is Today!

I'm excited to have Only Because It Was You, Gus McRaidy from Eternal Press releasing today! It took a bit to get this manuscript polished and out. I want to share a little of the back story about it. When I first started writing it, it was mostly for myself to help me with the stories of his sons, Den, Johnson, Mike, Kevin and Sean. The more I wrote, the more his story evolved and Ann appeared.
It was instant chemistry on the pages. Now the interesting thing was it didn't seem to matter what I thought, they had their own story and whispered in my ear. That's the kind of story I love to write. The characters take on a life of their own and I just type it for them. LOL
I know that sounds a little strange but there are other authors who have the same process happen:)
Gus is the contemporary decedent of Liam McRaidy from Her McRaidy Chieftain. They just seem to have a kindred connection.
Later this summer, Liam's son Conner and his lovely Somer will be meeting you. Also, one of Gus's sons is frothing at the bit to be finished. Over time, the arc between the medieval McRaidy's and contemporary will grown together as it seems to be destiny... or my authorism kicking in. hahaha.
I hope you enjoy Gus and Ann and feel free to drop me a note at EmEpe@clearwire.net and give me your thoughts!
More personally, this month is my grandmothers birthday. She's passed many years ago much to my hearts sadness but she is always with me. This woman made sure I knew that I mattered to her and as equally important Grammie knew that I adored her. Grammie was who got me interested in romance oh so many years ago and she gave me my first romance novel to read. Her bookshelf that I know have sitting right next to my desk was always full of books. I know she'd be proud and would love the stories I create. So today I'm thinking of her and missing her but I'm pretty sure she's stretched out reading my work.
Happy Easter everyone and thank you for loving my characters as much as they love you!
Love Em

Somer's Rising, Book Two of the McRaidy Clan

My little darling Somer's Rising was contracted by the incredible Eternal Press! The tentative release date is September! It is the sequel to Her McRaidy Chieftain. I think you're going to love Somer and Conner:) Don't forget, Only Because It Was You, Gus McRaidy is releasing on April 7th. I'm a happy girl!
Have to run but I'll be posting soon...
Lots of Love to All
Em

Friends!

Happy March! It's been a rough last month. My computer gave up on me so now I'm using a borrowed one from my best friend of twenty plus years. It made me stop again and think about the value of friends, not so much what they give or lend but that they are just simply there. Especially one that you've had for many years. It gives a sense of roots so to speak. They are with you good and bad and many times outlast marriages, jobs and a plethora of other life events.
I think for me, it keeps me grounded and calm. Hopefully I do the same for her. If you haven't recently, then take the time to show some appreciation to the friend or friends that can turn the day into something a little more palitable when things seem hopeless. Make sure they know they matter.
I have a release next month from Eternal Press for my book Only Because it was You, Gus McRaidy. I'm excited and can't wait to read it. I know, I know, I wrote it, I know how it goes but there's something different about lazing around and reading a story you love. In May I have a release with Still Moments in their anthology. My piece is called Threat to our Forever. Its a sweet vs spicy romance. Make sure you check out both releases and let me know what you think.
That leads me back to friends. Mine are supportive of my books and writing but most heart warming to me is when I discuss a WIP they can usually tell me when I started it, when I reworked it and when I submitted it for publication. What does that tell me? That I matter:) Who doesn't want, need or love that?
Last I blogged I a new bathroom door was on the to-do list. Well its in but nothing ever goes as simply as one would hope. Had to trim the side and the bottom. I guess that comes from living in a house that was built in the 30's. LOL
Today and for the next couple of weeks I will be working on a manuscript to submit for another anthology. I'll keep you posted!
Well I'm off to let my creative flow begin!!
Much love to you all,
Em

New Contract and random thoughts

I'm not sure if I mentioned this because it all went very quickly but I submitted for an anthology with Still Moments Publishing for their Moonlight Mysteries to be out in May. Well bless my day I received an offer from them on Tuesday. They are so friendly and helpful, I am excited to be a part of their author team!!! So watch for it. My book is called Threat to our Forever.

It's Friday and I'm going door shopping tonight...I'd love something elaborate but think it will pretty basic. After all, its for the bathroom.

Love you all!
Em

What I've been writing!

Well, I got Somer's Rising submitted. Now I wait to see if it is accepted. Always a lip biting time but I just move forward with my next manuscript to pass the time. Soooooo, you'll wait with me??
Somer's Rising is Book Two in the McRaidy Clan. I really like her and Conner McRaidy is all man*sigh*

I'm anxious and excited about Only Because it was You, Gus McRaidy. Amanda Kelsey is doing my cover as she did the one for Her McRaidy Chieftain. She is such a gifted artist! Gus and I are in great hands!

I wanted to give a little peek a boo of Gus. He is what you would expect from a McRaidy. Strong, passionate not only in love but family and life. The woman who gives him a challenge is Ann. She is a confident, accomplished woman who is worth the effort. I like her and when I wrote Ann, she had great things to whisper in my ear. Like I've said before, my characters tell their story and I am just the note taker. LOL

Hmmmm, what else am I working on....Just finished writing the first chapter of Book Three of the McRaidy Clan. The heroine is outstanding, I can't wait to see what she wants to have written:) I finished a 13k novella submission that is a sweet romantic suspense. A little different for me as far as romantic heat goes but we'll see what the publisher thinks of it. We'll have to wait a few weeks so add that to our waiting list also:)

A christmas story idea that has simmered in my mind for a while is flowing out also aaaannnnddd I am doing some clean up on my very first manuscript I completed. Editing, polishing, some rewriting, fixing those naughty POV changes in the middle of a scene....this could take a while.

As You can See I am working on several manuscripts at the same time. That's pretty typical of me which is why I have several done at the same time and then a longer period without a completion...Just my style I think. Multi Tasking sounds so much better.

I'll close for now but as soon as I have my approved Blurb and Excerpts for Only Because it was You, Gus McRaidy, I'll be sure to post them!

Take care and Lots of Love
Em

Only Because It Was You, Gus McRaidy

Hi All!!! I have exciting news, Only Because It Was You, Gus McRaidy received a contract from Eternal Press! The scheduled release date is April 7th. This is the contemporary in my arc of the McRaidy Family. Her McRaidy Chieftain started the medieval footing in the Highlands of Scotland and Gus McRaidy is the footing for the contemporary.
Authors will understand my next comments and readers perhaps too but the McRaidy's in their entirety just line up and have a lot to say. I will be starting the edits for Gus and prepping Somer's Rising (medieval highlands) for submission but I have several characters from different time era's tapping on my shoulder. For me it's a fun process and that feeling you get when you read a book, you know how you are glued and keep turning the page, well when my characters began speaking, it's that way for me. I just type the notes:)

We are in the New Year finally and I have to say, I love January. Everything feels fresh and alive. As though opportunity and adventure will occur at any moment. It's also one of my favorite times to think about myself. That sounds weird huh? If you think about it, you don't really think about yourself as much as you think about what you need to do or accomplish. It's like paying your monthly bills, you just pay them most of the time but when do you really think about why do I owe these and how do I feel about owing them? For instance lets discuss my phone bill. Now the amount is agreeable to me but what I was getting for my money seemed  to be far less than what everyone else is getting. So I looked around and realized for what I was paying I could have unlimited talk, text and web browsing where as previously I had unlimited text, 500 mins of talk and zero web browsing. It paid off to make the change and no I didn't have to get a new contract either. That's what I mean about thinking about myself versus thinking about what I'm suppose to do.

I'm sure we all have made goals or resolutions and some we will keep, others not so much and a few we may modify but no matter how we go about it, at least we've thought about it:)

For now I need to run but as part of MY resolutions I will write more often on my blog instead of thinking about it!

Lots of Love
Em

Could we all be a writer without knowing it?

I think there may be a writer in each of us but we just don't know it. The average persons perception on an incident, happy or sad becomes a story. However, to those that feel a swelling inside are driven to put it down in writing. Little things that happen in every day life become a seed to an author. It may not generate an entire novel but it definitely shows up somewhere in some fashion.
Even the color of the sky at sunset can fertilize a growing story. For instance, during a tremendous windstorm, dust seemed to gather in cloud that, to me, looked like a character in my book. As the wind lifted various items and floated them around I wondered if the hero in one of my story's could actually float down on gusts of wind if they were controlled by a mythological creature. Well I did a few trial and errors (no I didn't jump off anything) with some research on wind gusts and some probability theory's and viola, it could happen.
The reason for my musing is this, when you are in a group and people are relaying their weekends or an event, some of them are noticeably more interesting than others and you want to hear more. Could they be a writer and we don't know it or is it that they don't know it yet.
I worked with a wonderful woman at one point and she had a personality that made  you want to know her. Kind, funny, honest and a wonderful heart. She is drawn towards making life better for others but when she tells about it, I always thought she should write a book. Maybe she will, maybe she won't but I still always thought it.
Well those are my thoughts today on writing and now I shall open my latest WIP re-write (and trust me, you want me to re-write this!!) and get to work.
Lots of Love to all
Em

Been working hard---How about you?

I've been working hard on a few different manuscripts now that work continues to calm down. Whatcha been doing yourselves?

Lots of love
Em