Wednesday, January 24, 2018

#Music, My Muse: part 3 by Toi Thomas #OurAuthorGang

From Pinterest via Tone Deaf Comics

Today, in part 3 of the Music My Muse series, I’ll be sharing more on mood music and the use of a playlist. (see part 1 and part 2 here).

In my first contribution to this blog, I talked a bit about my stories playing like movies in my head. As much as I love books, I also love movies. Most of my reading life, until recent years, has been filled with science fiction, fantasy, and tales of the paranormal. When I decided to take on the challenge of writing a romantic comedy, it was my love of movies and music that helped me develop the right mindset and my story.

Amazon.com
Over at The ToiBox of Words, I’ve blogged about the movies that influence my book, It’s Like the Full Moon, but I don’t think I’ve ever really talked about the music. It might be difficult to imagine that there are certain songs that make me think of laughter, family gatherings, sickness, death, a good meal, and so much more, but there are. Stretching myself with a genre that was practically foreign to me was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but at least I had mood music with me the whole way to help it all come together.

When I needed help writing about Rebecca’s, my main character, feelings for a lover she’d lost, there were so many songs that came to mind; some sad and some empowering. Since Rebecca’s lover died suddenly and it’s years later that she’s reflecting on the loss, I didn’t want there to be too much sadness. It was important for me to show that she would always love this person even if she moved on a learned to love someone else. Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” really helped me get through that part of the story.

One would think that if you were going to write a party scene that some kind of upbeat happy tune would help get the juices flowing. But, what if you had to write an awkward party scene where none of the guests are really having fun and there’s a secret lingering in the air for two of the attendees, one of which is the guest of honor? Amy Winehouse’s version of “It’s My Party” really helped me get into the awkward party mood. On another note, when you’re writing about a smashing-good-time of a party being hosted by a self-absorbed pretty boy, Little Richard’s “I Feel Pretty” might be just what’s needed to inspire that kind of fantastic chaos.

When you’re trying to come up with a happy ending and you’re just not sure if that’s what you’re going to have, finding the right song might help you see if your characters are really meant to be together. Considering that, It’s Like the Full Moon, is a bit of a love triangle story, you must consider that even one person’s happy ending may not be so happy for someone else. That’s why it has to be true love, real love, a love worth fighting for and the triumphant couple must think, “It had to be You.” (Harry Connick Jr.)

If you’d like to experience more of the songs that helped shape the mood and atmosphere of It’s Like the Full Moon, please check out the "A side" playlist of the dream soundtrack I posted to YouTube. (B side is also available on my channel.)
Now for something a little different. In this section, I’ll be sharing quotes from other authors and bloggers, I’ve collected in over 200 interviews, when asked, ‘When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

“Can't stand heavy metal. Love lyrical songs, such as "Suzanne" by Leonard Cohen.” ~ Randy Attwood

“The song that sums up my entire married life is “Remember When” by Alan Jackson.  The one that makes me cry the most at this point of my life is “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Trace Atkins. The music I like least is rap, unless I happen to be in a roller skating rink at the time.” ~ Paula Hrbacek

“JoshGroban calms me and makes me travel in my mind outside myself. He eases the stress that comes when the music (if you can call it music) is doing its cattle-call outside. No, not country music, that stuff that pounds and screams and makes you think of the movie, Psycho. There are some things a writer can control, other things she can't.” ~ Kathryn E Jones
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Find out more about me, my work, and my inspiration at the following links:

Amazon | Goodreads The ToiBox of Words | YouTube | See a list of my other posts here.

#moodmusic, #music, #romance, #party, #authorquotes, #Pinterest
COMMENTS

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Rebecca Tran

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I personally prefer christian music at the moment. "Breathe" by Johnny Diaz got me out of a really bad mental funk and I will always be grateful for that song. Lately I like "Even If" by Mercy Me it's a great reminder of where my faith belongs. Some days though I like to crank it up and turn on 3 Days Grace so I can feel like I'm 20 again.
 
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Rebecca Tran

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
On a Small Gang of Authors today Toi talks about music on a more personal level in her third installment of her series "Music, My Muse"
 
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Toi Thomas via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Part 3 in my series on music and writing talks about some of the mood music that helped me write It's Like the Full Moon.
 
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Toinette Thomas​ continues with Part 3 of her feature, "Music, My Muse."
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Joe Bonadonna

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
This is great, Toi! Very cool to know not only your "playlist," but to read these quotes from other authors.
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Toi shares part three of her series on music and how it helps her write her wonderful stories. Stop by and check her out!
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Ruth de Jauregui

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I write best with music in the background. TV is too distracting and silence isn't good because the little dogs can hear every noise outside -- and then they bark like little idiots. (We call them "the early warning system.") Jazz, blues, quiet storm -- my characters listen to music too...
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Mary Anne Yarde

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What a lovely post!
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Grace Au

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Love music, but when I write, it must be quiet. The characters in my head are enough to sort through as they tell me their stories. Great post, Toi. Thanks.
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Rich Feitelberg

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I often wish I could write music and put it in my novels to set a mood.
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I wrote one song for a bard I don't know that it came off as well as I think it did although I haven't had complaints yet. I won't be doing it again. I'm not a song writer and the poet in me died with my dad and 2 favorite uncles. Good thing I can't sing. Haha

Nikki McDonagh

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Yes, music and some lyrics do help me with ideas and can give characters more depth by thinking, what would they listen to? Great post.
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Tuesday, January 23, 2018

I'll Meet You at the Footbridge #OurAuthorGang

This story was inspired by a real life journey. I've changed the names and added a bit of imagination. Remember, February--the month of love, is only a few days away!

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

I'LL MEET YOU AT THE FOOTBRIDGE
By Author Grace Augustine

Caitlyn sat down on my lap and snaked her little arms around my neck.  It made me smile to know my great-grandchildren loved spending time with us.

“Tell me again, how you and great grandpa met,” she pleaded.

I pulled her little nine-year-old body closer to me for a hug and kissed her temple.  She knew this story frontwards and backwards, but always had to have me retell it whenever she visited.

“Well, Catie, I wasn’t very good at picking out boys to date. After four years of high school and four years of college, I’d had countless boys that were just terrible.”

Catie nodded her head.

“That’s when you asked great great grandma to fix you up, right?”

I snickered silently at that sentence.  Yes, that is when I had to be fixed up with a date.

“Yes, Catie. My mom and I sat at the kitchen table discussing boys and how most of my friends were married and having children. Then there was me…”

“Yeah, but, you were beautiful, Oma Marie. You still are.”

“Oh, child, thank you. Now, do you want me to finish this story, or are you going to tell it to me?”

“I’ll shut up, Oma Marie,” the little poppet affirmed.

“My mom worked at a factory with a lot of other people. There were some young men there, one in particular, who wasn’t having any luck with dating. So, my mom asked him if he would like to come to dinner. I was mortified! But, I’m the one who told her to find me someone to marry.”

Catie laughed at that. She opened her mouth, but shut it quickly.

“Your Opa Mark knocked on the door of our home and, of course, my mom made me answer the door. There he stood, all six-foot-six of him, dressed to the nines. No words came out of my mouth. I just stared at him. He probably thought I was the biggest loser he’d ever met.  My mom yelled at me to invite him to come in, so I did.

“The dining room table was filled with food, and my two sisters and mom and dad. After dinner, mom suggested that Mark and I go in the living room and get to know each other. We spent the next three hours talking and laughing. When it was time for him to leave, I walked with him to the door. He kissed my cheek and asked when he could see me again.”

I tear up every time I tell this story to sweet Caitlyn. I hugged her closer to me as I thought of my darling, Mark. He is the best thing that ever happened to me. I constantly thank my mother in Heaven for introducing us.

“This is where Opa Mark asks you to meet him at the bridge, right?” Caitlyn’s head bobbed, as did her blonde curls.

“Yes, honey, this is where Opa Mark and I met at the bridge. Every time we met, we met at the bridge before we went out on our dates. Three months into our relationship, Opa Mark asked me to marry him,right there, standing in the middle of the bridge... and I said yes. Each year on our anniversary, we walk the length of that bridge, always stopping for a kiss in the very spot he proposed  and remember that special night. Tomorrow, we will be married fifty-five years.”

“Oma Marie! That’s a very long time! I wonder if my Momma will pick my husband.”

“Oh, Catie, you have years before you have to worry about that. Enjoy your time growing up. When it’s time for that special boy in your life, I’m sure you will have many knocking on your door.”

“But, I don’t want many. I just want one. I want one that is as special as Opa Mark,” Catie stated. “You love Opa Mark a whole lot, don’t you?”

“I love Opa Mark with all of who I am, honey.”

“Are you going to the bridge tomorrow? Can I come?”

I smiled down at my oldest great grandchild. She was so much like her grandmother and her mother with a bit of me mixed in there for good measure.

“Yes, Opa Mark and I will walk down that bridge tomorrow. We must do that. It’s tradition. And, Catie, no, you can’t go with us tomorrow. But, whatcha say to us doing it another day? We’ll get ice cream.”

Catie’s eyes grew large at the thought of ice cream. Again, her arms were around my neck and she kissed my cheek.


“I love you Oma Marie, and Opa Mark, and I love that bridge, too.”

Monday, January 22, 2018

Plotting – Changing Gears to Nonfiction

by Ruth de Jauregui

I've spent a lot of time talking about fiction writing and my pantser (also called pantster) tendencies. Ironically, when I write nonfiction, it's a whole different process. I suppose you could call it "right brain/left brain" thing (although that concept has been debunked), but I definitely switch from a seat-of-the-pants creative process to a logical mode when I work on nonfiction projects.


When beginning a nonfiction project, such as 50 Fabulous Tomatoes or 100 Medical Milestones That Shaped World History , I compile a list. In my book about tomatoes, it was in alphabetical order. For 100 Medical Milestones, it was in chronological order. In the case of Ghost Towns, I organized the chapters more or less chronologically. Because there was overlap in the boom and bust of the West, the chapters on the silver boom followed those on the gold rush.

First, I build a list in a Word document and add dates and links to references and resources before I ever begin to write the book. I also consult with other writers and enthusiasts/experts in the field for recommendations and information. I look for websites and copy the links to the appropriate item on the list so I can easily find the information when I'm ready to write that item or chapter. I also stack my books near the computer, ready for research.

In addition to the list, which may become the Table of Contents, I also plan the Introduction and Index. Among the early decisions while plotting and planning nonfiction projects are the paragraph formatting and size of the finished hard copy.

50 Fabulous Tomatoes text ready to flow into the ebook format.

I have to laugh, because this is completely the opposite of my fiction writing. Generally I have several future projects saved in my computer. In fact, I've started compiling information for a series of middle school social studies/history books and I'm up to four outlines already…


Sunday, January 21, 2018

Our Guest Today is Aubree Lane #OurAuthorGang


Join me in welcoming Aubree Lane to our blog today.


Aubree Lane is a true storyteller. This award-winning author has been writing in one form or another most of her life and has loved every minute. She lives in the beautiful foothills of Northern California with her husband, two wonderful sons, and super special peek-a-poo named Tanner. When not managing the pooper scooper, Aubree can be found at one of her favorite vacation spots--anywhere from Lake Tahoe to Maui. Her motto: Write Until Your Butt Hurts and Your Eyes are Crossed.

Aubree books are for mature readers over 18 yrs of age. She loves hearing from her readers and may be reached at:

Website:  http://www.aubreelaneauthor.com/
Mailing list sign-up: https://www.aubreelaneauthor.com/newsletter-signup-form
Blog: http://www.aubreelane.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AubreeLane3
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AubreeLaneAuthor/


 Excerpt from MISSING THE GATE

     Bella had arrived. Before she dismissed the car, the young woman checked the address one last time while praying she was in the right place. Vague snatches from the ominous gate from her childhood seemed larger and more daunting than the rusted out version standing before her. The vines trailing up the iron fence hid the house and property she partially owned.
     "This is the address you gave me, miss," the cab driver insisted. "Are you getting out, or would you like me to take you to a different location?"
     If only she had somewhere else to go. Bella hadn't seen her aunt since kindergarten. After dear ol' Auntie heard the news she was about to lay on her, Bella doubted their reunion would be a happy one.
    After straightening her knitted cap, Bella braced herself. "Looks like I'm home," she answered brightly. Then, with as much determination as an eighteen-year-old could muster, she paid the driver and stepped back into a world she was no longer a part of.
     The driver left her luggage sitting on the ground outside the gate and drove away.
     Alone, nervous, and unsure of her future, Bella had no other choice. Her mom was dead. If her father was still alive, he would probably be in the area, but Bella had no wish to reconnect with his fierce right hook. With little more than the clothes on their backs, battered Dory Porter bundled her five-year-old daughter and fled for their lives.
     Bella had no memory of her former surname.  Before leaving Kentucky, their new identities had already been formed. What recollections she had evolved around the estate before her. A kind aunt who loved to cook, a large yard to run and play in, and this gate, which helped protect them from the drunken wife beater and local loan shark, Quincy Porter.
     Bella peeked her head through the bars and caught a glimpse of the two-story ranch house. Her heart sank at the sight of paint peeling from the siding and drooping gutters.
     A white-haired woman dressed in jeans and a brown barn jacket pushed open the screen and called out, "Can I help you?"
     This was it. There was no turning back.
     "I'm Bella. Are you Lily?"
     Shocked filled the old woman's face and the cup of coffee in her hand dropped to the ground. She stared with her mouth agape for several seconds before rushing down the steps.
     "Bella, is it really you?" Her short legs rounded the bend and hurried toward the gate's code box.
     The pillar was located several yards inside the property. One of the few stories her mother had related about their past life was the one where her dad tried to gain access to them by crashing his truck into the box's original location. He totaled his vehicle for nothing. The estate was on lock down. According to Mom, Aunt Lily never felt safe after that and had the code box relocated inside the iron fencing. Now the only way for an outsider to get in was with a special key fob.
     Before her mother passed away, Dory sent Lily a letter, telling her to expect Bella to come and claim her inheritance.
     By the excited look on her aunt's face, Bella figured the letter had arrived.  Lily entered the code. The gate groaned and slowly began to move.
     Squeezing through the opening, Bella got a load of the complete and total disrepair of Abel Manor. Her mom led her to believe something better waited for her here in Chandler County, but it appeared as if her inheritance was worthless.
    The smidgen of hope she had before leaving Los Angeles vanished. Panicky palpitations from her pounding heart made Bella unsteady and light-headed. Breathing became difficult and it felt like her own lungs were suffocating her.
     The last thing she saw before passing out was her aunt reaching out to catch her.

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Saturday, January 20, 2018

Watch Videos Day At #OurAuthorGang

"Watch Videos" Day

Watch these videos and tell us what you think.
Coincidence, faith, or just one of those things we can't explain.



Friday, January 19, 2018

Don’t forget the Villains #OurAuthorGang

By Rich Feitelberg

When I was a teen and still learning my craft, I bought this book by Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame, Bring on the Bad Guys. The book highlights some of the baddest villains Marvel ever created, the point being that you can’t have a story without a protagonist. In fantasy novels, like the ones I write, that includes monsters.

Even now as I revise the next book in the Aglaril Cycle, I am considering different opponents for the heroes to fight because without them the story seems flat or to be easy for them. The heroes need to struggle like Hercules at his labors so that the reader says “Wow! look at all they had to overcome and they still succeeded.”

A word of caution here, it is possible to go too far. You don’t want a slugfest where all the heroes do is fight monsters and villains from the start of the story to the end. You need to balance it. How do you know you have the right mix? You test read the story. You can also see where the story slows down. That might be a good place to add something.

In Book 6 of the Aglaril Cycle, I found several places where I skipped over several hours with the vague sentence akin to: “They continued on their journey for the next several hours and stopped to eat at noon.” That’s a red flag to fill least part of the morning with a monster or some other encounter that will prevent the reader from dozing off.

Remember you need to keep your readers engaged or they will go elsewhere. You don’t want that. So don’t forget the villains or the monsters.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Book in the Spotlight: Dragons of the North #OurAuthorGang

Dragons of the North: Box Set

Rebecca Tran

Several months ago I reached a lull in my writing. I was discouraged over low sales and felt like I hit a wall. I knew what I was writing was good but no one was reading it. Frustrated, I took a break and purchased a $0.99 shifter romance on Amazon. It was a new genre for me. It sounded like fun though. I gave it a whirl, and I was hooked. One book became the whole series. 

Soon I had a sexy dragon shifter of my own stuck in my head. But, who was his leading lady? Who needed the perfect man? Then it hit me. My best friend struggled to find Mr. Right. She needed a happy ending more than anyone I knew. I started writing what I thought would be a short story. I planned to send it to her as a surprise. The more I wrote though the more the story took on a life of its own. 

The series dedication reads: 'This set of romance novellas is dedicated to my best friend Crystal who inspired one of the characters. I hope she finds someone who loves her as much as I do.' It's a sentiment that I repeat throughout the stories. I think everyone deserves to find someone who loves them and makes them truly happy. While this series began as a present for a friend I now hope it brings happiness to many more readers. 

This is an excerpt from Book 1: Chased

Taylor stretched onto her toes to cover the eight inches of difference between them. She’d never felt short until she met Chase. She kissed him gently, testing to see how he would respond. Hisarm wrapped around her pulling Taylor close to his body. Her lips parted inviting him in, and Chase’s tongue swept into her mouth. It was electric. She’d never felt anything like that before. He was gorgeous, and a remarkable kisser and he was hers. 'Mine' her heart sang.

Taylor let go stepping away. She looked at Chase a long moment still reeling from their kiss and the sudden feeling deep inside her. Taylor’s heart was pounding. Why would she think that? Why? She had to get away. Taylor went into his room and shut the door. She leaned against it and locked the handle to keep herself from doing something she’d regret later. Chase stood on the other side of the door a long moment before leaving without a word. Taylor wondered if she made a huge mistake.
                                                                         ✯✯✯✯✯
EVERYTHING ABOUT KISSING Taylor felt so right. 'Mate' and 'Mine'. Kept going through Chase’s head. He quit fighting it. If this is what it felt like to kiss his mate, he was ready to embrace it. He couldn’t imagine a better choice than Taylor.

If you would like to read this set of novellas it will be released 1/25/18. It is available for pre-order now on Amazon and other book retailers. If you would like to receive updates, exclusive content, and freebies sign up for my newsletter . For a complete list of my work visit my author page or my website.

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