Our Guest Today is Dawn Sullivan #OurAuthorGang

Let's welcome author Dawn Sullivan to our blog today.

I have a wonderful, supportive husband and three beautiful children. I enjoy spending time with all of them, which normally involves some baseball, shooting hoops, taking walks, watching movies, and reading.

My passion for reading began at a very young age and only grew over time. Whether I was bringing home a book from the library, or sneaking one of my mom's romance novels to read by the light in the hallway when we were supposed to be sleeping, I always had a book.

I read several different genres and sub-genres, but Paranormal Romance and Romantic Suspense are my favorites.

I have always made up my own stories, and finally decided to start sharing them. I hope everyone enjoys reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

Dawn loves hearing from her readers and may be contacted at:

Website: http://www.dawnsullivanauthor.com/

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/dawnsullivanauthor

Amazon:      http://amzn.to/2qfjJRj

Twitter:      https://twitter.com/dawn_author

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/dawnsullivanauthor

Readers Group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorDawnSullivansRARERebels/

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Sloane Murphy needed a fresh start.  A new beginning.  She has finally crawled out of the hell her life used to be and moved on, even if it did take several years.  Purchasing a bookstore in the small town of Serenity Springs, Texas is a dream come true for her.  Meeting her best friend’s brother, a man she had heard so much about, was an added bonus.

Creed Caldwell is the Sheriff of Serenity Springs.  His life is centered around his daughter, his family, and his job.  He didn’t think there was room for anyone else in it, until he met Sloane. The attraction is instant, the passion undeniable.  Until someone decides they don’t want Creed and Sloane together. 

Will Creed be able to protect both his family and the woman he is falling for? Will Sloane find the strength to place her trust in another man after her painful past?  Will the fight to not only survive but to forge a future with one another bring them closer together, or be their ultimate demise?  

Research is Essential #OurAuthorGang

In my last two posts, I discussed things I discovered while researching topics for my novels or short stories. When I started writing, I never thought I would have to research anything. I thought if I wrote fantasy I wouldn’t have to. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Even in the fantasy realm, you have to know the basics to be credible. You have to know the different types of swords and how they are used. The basics of fighting with a staff or axes or even shooting a bow are all required if they are put in your novel. Poorly written battle scenes are usually a sign of someone who hasn’t done their research. Depending on what type of book you’re writing military strategy could be helpful as well.

If you are writing anything based in the real world even if it is a fantasy the

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details become even more important. I started writing For Their Sins as a vampire fantasy and never gave a second thought to its historical accuracy. At least I didn’t until I was preparing it for publication. Suddenly I had a complete work of fiction with characters who didn’t even have names from the countries they were born in.

To allow the reader to completely lose themselves in the fantasy of that world, everything had to be accurate. I had to research names, places, dates, clothing and yes even sailing times from the early 18^th century.

I’m not the only author to do so. The detail is what separates good novels from great ones. Think about best-selling novels. In books ranging from the Da Vinci Code to The Silence of the Lambs, there is always well-researched details from the real world. Everything is believable. You don’t spend half your time wondering: is that right?

If you as a writer are tripped up wondering is this accurate; so, will your reader. It will detract from your story. A few days ago I read a couple pages from a book’s “look inside” on Amazon, and it left me wondering. Why is the main character speaking Spanish when the orator told me they are speaking Portuguese? They are in Africa. Do they speak Portuguese there? Two simple questions in the first two pages already detracted from the story they were trying to tell me. The reader was lost.

No matter how tedious research is always worth the effort. You never know when you may have a local reader pick up your book or an expert in that field. You may not claim to be an expert or a local, but you don’t want to look like an idiot either. You want the reader to focus on the story, not your facts.

#Music, My Muse: part 4 by Toi Thomas #OurAuthorGang

from Pinterest via rachelbananas.com

Forgive me if I quote, or more accurately, paraphrase from a very cheesy, often misunderstood, and highly underrated spoof film (I’m Gonna Git You Sucka) as I consider one of my heroic characters walking into the sunset. One man asks (looking at a group of men with instruments) to the other, “Who are these guys?” and the other responds, “They're my theme music. Every hero needs to have theme music!”

So, today, in part 4 of the Music My Muse series, I’ll be sharing some thoughts on character theme songs. (see part 1, part 2, and part 3 here).

Hero is a word of many meanings. As a lover of great stories, I know that the hero is the main character or protagonist of the story. If said character should also be ‘a hero’ as in one who saves the lives of others, well, so be it. Much in the same way that mood music helps me imagine a scene or evoke a feeling or emotion, theme songs represent the broader aspects of a story or character. When you hear a theme song, you don’t always recall minute details, plot points, or specific character traits but instead, you immediately identify the story or character without question.

The idea of a theme song seems to work best when it comes to TV programming, but it can also be quite compelling for film. If I start to sing, “Thank you for being a friend,” four grey-haired women automatically pops into the minds of many who only sporadically watch the 80s TVs show, while singing the words, “So no one told you life was going to be this way,” will have most thinking of six friends from New York. Think of all the movies in the James Bond franchise and then consider how easy it is to identify each one by their theme song.

For me, I imagine that each of my characters has a theme song. When I hear it, I automatically think of them without question or consider how the character may or may evolve over the course of a story or series. I think, though, that’s the toughest part about applying a theme song to a character. Characters change, grow, and evolve over time, but the message, feeling, and theme of the song stays constant. If there is a song that can represent a character through all their development and evolution, then that should be their theme song. 

For heroes of my Eternal Curse Series, I imagine they each have very different theme songs. For the powerful, yet sometimes self-loathing character of Giovanni, I hear the song “Loser” by Beck. For the science-minded, yet spiritually curious character of Mira, I hear the song “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae. In the second installment, Eternal Curse: Battleground, I hear the song “I’m Just a Girl” by No Doubt when I think of the character Tori(Victoria), and so much more.

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If you’d like to experience more of the songs and other inspiration for the characters, setting, and themes of the Eternal Curse Series, please visit these two Pinterest story guides: BOOK 1 | BOOK 2.

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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?’

“I love all music.  I especially love old time jazz.  I sing… My dad was a trumpet player, so he taught me to love music. There was always music in my house growing up, and now I am making my own music.  To me, even the musical scales are music!” ~ Penelope Dyan

“Generally, I look for uplifting music.  Right now I’ve got ‘The one and only’ by Chesney Hawkes stuck in my head, and I’m liking it.  I also like ‘No myth’ by Michael Penn and ‘The promise’ by When in Rome.” ~ Arthur Daigle

“I love jazz and old school R&B (like back in the 80s). I can’t stand Alternative or Heavy Metal. I’m sorry.” ~ Emeka Iwenofu

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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.

#themesong #character, #personality, #music, #authorquotes, #Pinterest

COMMENTS

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Erika M Szabo via Google+

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

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Erika M Szabo

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Great post! Now that I think about it, unintentionally, I chose "team songs" for my characters in the form of choosing phone alert music for them. Interesting!

 

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Toi Thomas

11 months ago

 

 

Team songs as phones alert music, that's pretty cool.

Rebecca Tran

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

I used to do this but I just can't write to music anymore. :( I do have music I like depending on my mood though. Great article Toi.

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Toi Thomas

11 months ago

 

 

Thank you.

Rebecca Tran

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Toi Thomas talks about giving your characters theme songs when writing. It's a powerful tool to help define a characters personality.

 

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Toi Thomas via Google+

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Today in part 4 of my music series I'm talking about character theme songs.

 

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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Toi Thomas shares the theme music that helps define her characters.

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Ruth de Jauregui

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

My main character has a sound system in the backyard, so jazz fills her garden...

 

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Toi Thomas

11 months ago

 

 

That's so cool. I bet your character has major relaxation skills.

Grace Au

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

I love this! My characters have specific songs, too. Glad to know I'm not alone in this.

 

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Toi Thomas

11 months ago

 

 

Yeah, it totally helps to visualize them and connect with them.

Joe Bonadonna

11 months ago (edited)  -  Shared publicly

 

This s very cool, Toi. Never really thought about theme songs for my characters, although I have several for myself, lol!

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Toi Thomas

11 months ago

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I'm with you. All my theme songs make me seem a bit crazy, but maybe it's not the songs (it's me).

Joe Bonadonna

11 months ago

 

 

lol! 

Joe Bonadonna via Google+

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Toinette Thomas​ continues with her discussion about how music is her muse, and gives us some pretty cool ideas, too.

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Nikki McDonagh

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

Great way to get to know your characters.

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Toi Thomas

11 months ago

 

 

Thanks. I think a theme song says a lot about a character.

Mary Anne Yarde

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly

 

I have a playlist for each of my characters! LOL!

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Toi Thomas

11 months ago

 

 

I try to come up with a playlist for each book, but maybe I should try doing one for each character.

Rich Feitelberg

11 months ago (edited)  -  Shared publicly

 

I often imagine movie music for scenes in my novels but I'm sure that's nothing compared to the music that a professional would write. I really need these books made into movies!

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Toi Thomas

11 months ago

 

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You know, as much as people (I too am guilty) complain about book-to-screen adaptations, sometimes it's just wonderful to see visual representation of a good story.