Tuesday, January 18, 2022
To Write or Not to Write by Nancy M Bell
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Some Pre-Release reviews for Chance's Way and A shout out to When Words Collide by Nancy M Bell
To learn more about The Alberta Adventures series and The Cornwall Adventures that proceeded it please click on the cover above.
First, When Words Collide, that wonderful and very affordable writers festival has wrapped up for another year. This is the second year we've gathered online and all things considered it seems we are getting better at managing Zoom calls. The wonderful thing about WWC is that all the presenters and hosts and organizers volunteer their time and expertise which makes this amazing event accessible to everyone. Hopefully next year we can all meet in person again in Calgary. I sat on several panels and did a presentation on Character Development which was well attended. Thanks to everyone who tuned it and participated.
Now, for a bit of shameless self promotion. As you may or may not know reviews are so important to an author. Chance's Way releases on September 1, 2021 and I have been lucky enough to get a couple of pre-release reviews. So, just to whet your whistle, so to speak....
From KC Finn of Readers Favorite
Author Nancy M. Bell has crafted a great YA drama that will introduce readers to country life in Canada, with sweet romance and highly relatable protagonists. Chance’s journey was intelligently penned and well-balanced to give a heartfelt but not overdone approach to his big life turnaround. The issues surrounding his ne’er-do-well father were so interesting to explore, and you could really feel Chance’s family conflict coming through. I also enjoyed the presentation of Laurel immensely, and her dialogue and charm made me want to read the rest of the books in the Alberta Adventures series to see her personal journey too. Overall, I would recommend Chance’s Way to fans of the existing series and new readers seeking emotional tales of young people just setting out to carve a future for themselves despite their setbacks and adversities.
Till next month, stay well, stay happy
Sunday, June 28, 2015
The Horse in Your Western Novel – Horses are not Zebras or Misguided Unicorns By Connie Vines
CLICK TO PURCHASE FROM AMAZON |
CLICK TO PURCHASE FROM AMAZON |
For fantasy (naming your unicorn):
(during my rural life in Ramona, CA)
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Just Me and My Besties--Slugging a Path Through Those 'Sagging Middles' By Connie Vines
PURCHASE FROM AMAZON |
Yes, I have friends, associates, family, and other writers to converse with though out my day.
Yes, I network, attend workshops, and belong to online writing chapters. I even have other writer friend only a text message away.
But at 3 AM, when I'm slugging my way through a 'not-quite-working' middle of a novel, and I've started talking to myself. It's nice to have a BFs at your disposal.
While the focus of the movies and television seems to be on helpfulness of minions and the like--I prefer the company of a good listener--or cheering section.
Well, it's not conventional--but then I'm a bit quirky, most writer's are. After all we do spend quite a bit of time in our own company.
For a person who did not indulge in, or particularly like, dolls as a child (I held my baby doll by a foot allowing her head bounced around in the dirt). I did like monster movies (The old Universal Monster Movies). I collected the model kits and read all the magazines about horror make-up and read bios about the great actors. So I guess this type of cheering section makes perfect sense.
(See qualifying statement in earlier paragraph).
So did I come up with any sure fire way to get through those 'sagging story middles', with or without the help of Besties?
I've changed to Pandora Radio for evening listen, and Slacker Radio during the day. When I'm working though a snag, B.J. Thomas is usually singing in the background.
Let's face it. the middle of a story can be depressing. Our hero becomes overwhelmed. Things look savage and harsh. Paths disappear (for both the hero and, unfortunately, the writer).
To quote, Nancy Kress, The function of the middle is to develop the implicit promise made by a story's beginning.
After all, a promise is a promise.
This is when we must ask ourselves, whose story is this?
Who are the point of view characters?
What is the main plot line (throughline is the film term)?
Not certain? Boy, do you have a problem!
Getting a clear focus on your plot line can make the middle of your book easier to write. Where should the emphasize be--which scenes, which characters. I used to rely on 3 x 5 index cards, now I use several writing programs and apps.
Since I write in series of threes: chapter 1-3, 4-7, etc. my middle seems longer because it over laps sections. I also like to have 3 scenes in each chapter, with a scene often breaking at a chapter's end and ending in the following chapter opening.
Still experiencing a bit of trouble? Choose three novels you know well. For each summarize the plot line in a sentence or two.
Jane Eyre: Penniless in a region of England she does not know, Jan experiences three bitter days of begging, sleeping outside, and nearly starving.
Dracula: One of Dr. Seward's mental patients, Renfield, lets Dracula into the asylum where the others are staying, allowing the count to prey on Mina.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!: When Linus sees a shadowy figure rising from the moonlit patch, he assumes the Great Pumpkin has arrived, and faints.
Now, pull out your WIP or a few of your unfinished stores. Summarize its plot line. List the scenes. How does each scene advance the plot, develop character, contribute to the middle plot line?
Do you need to add an additional scene? Should a scene have more emotional intensity? I find this to be true in my stories. My stories are character driven and the emotional reactions are a force which drives my plot lines.
Keep your characters from having a mid-life crisis by shoring up those 'sagging middles', and relying on your "Besties".
Happy Reading,
Connie
novelsbyconnievines
Word Slinger
follow Connie on Twitter
Saturday, February 28, 2015
The Power of Emotion by Connie Vines
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Digital Fitness Monitor--The Gift That Won't Stop Giving by Connie Vines
I, however, I am spending my morning staring out my office window at a profusion of lovely southern California greenery, listening to "The Martini Station" on Slacker Radio and slipping a cup of warm water (flavored with a bit of lemon) and tormenting myself with my Digital Fitness Monitor. The same Digital Fitness Monitor I purchase with my birthday gift cards (I am a June baby).
Mind you, I'd much rather be working on my next release: "Gumbo Ya Ya: for women who like romance Cajun and men HOT & SPICY!" Instead, I'm crawling on the floor to insert a tiny usb thingy into the center of my PC tower (why is the tower/tower door covers and background/ and the 'usb thingy' the same shiny shade of black? Why? Camouflage, maybe? No. No, that can't be the reason. The real reason being: black is the perfect venue to highlight 'finger-print' marks. Thankfully, for my sanity's sake, the monitor and wearable clip is in a somewhat-eye-catching shade of burgundy. (Easily located in the bottom of my black-lined handbag where the device may reside if things don't go well during our 'honeymoon stage".)
That said, I'm back on my PC, where, after rotating though an endless round of 'personal' questions on the set-up and download screen, I'm ready to begin. Unfortunately my device needs to have the battery charged for two hours. You guessed it, I'm back on the floor yanking out the usb sync device and replacing it with the tiny (black) charger while trying to decide which end of the burgundy fitness monitor to shove into the charging unit.
Success!
While I am waiting, reach for my iPhone and log on to MyFitnessPal with it's scanner and pre-programmed/personalized selection of my fave, and often selected foods, over the past three years. Even though it's time for a change (I did join an upgraded gym six months ago), and those same twenty pounds have come and gone. . .and returned numerous times over the past five years. Change is always a challenge.
Is this a challenge I'll like? I very much doubt it--I love my coffee (Starbucks: Gingerbread Latte, hold the whip) way too much. Will I give my new digital fitness monitor the old college try? Yes. After all what choice do I have (the darn thing was expensive!). I'll grumble, I'll complain, but I will use the digital device. After all, "Ask Dr. K", newspaper columnist and physician and professor at Harvard Medical School, says that most people use the devices and adopt a healthier lifestyle. He also has the results of surveys and studies to backup his findings.
I can't argue with proven success.
However, I draw the like at wearing the device while I sleep--I don't care if a wrist band, complete with Velcro fastening--and you guess it--in a nice shiny shade of black, came in the package!
Wishing you a New Year filled with joy and many blessing, as well as an E-Reader filled with wonderful stories from Books We Love Authors.
See you next month!
Connie
Sunday, February 10, 2013
What Woman Doesn't Love A Cowboy?
I was sitting on a hard, cold wooden bench, watching a rodeo in Thedford, Nebraska at the time. This town had been a spot on my usual off-the-tourist radar places I frequent during family vacations. This was the second time my husband, two young sons and I, had visited the small town and were absorbing the ambiance the western United States offered. My father, a fourth-generation Texan, amature rodeoed when he attended high school, so I understood the battering bronc riding had on the body. However, I hadn’t realized how strong the rodeo fan base was outside of the Lone Star State.
What a cowboy!
With a dangerous reputation for taking chances and tempting, fate, rugged cowboy Lynx Maddox had one goal in life—to win the coveted Silver Buckle rodeo championship. But when he sets eyes on lovely Rachel Scott, he becomes determined to capture her as well. . .
I’ll be back on blog in 30 minutes, and will be blogging throughout the day. So, grab a cup of coffee, watch my book trailer and read my book teaser—www.amazon.com/dp/B00ATSATM2. Or, visit my website: www.novelsbyconnievines.com
Today’s blog updates:
A recipe for “Cowboy Kisses”. Nope it’s not a sweet candy. Interested in other culinary recipes? Look over my blog: www.naughtynibbles4you.wordpress.com
"Never approach a bull from the front, a horse form the rear, or a fool from any direction,"
Connie
Popular Posts
-
It’s December … already. How did that happen? 2024 flew by like it was in a rush to get to 2025. What happened to those years when it to...
-
Find all of Eden Monroe's Books here The age of riverboats began in the Eastern Canadian province of New Brunswick in the early 1800’s...
-
Book 12 in our Canadian Historical Mysteries Collection - Alberta https://bookswelove.net/authors/canadian-historical-mysteries/ The 1918 i...
-
When I was a kid, I didn’t write stories. I wrote letters. A lot of letters. At first, I only sent them to relatives and Mom would dictate w...
-
Find my BWL books here! Is there any place more magical than a bookstore at Christmas? I...
-
https://books2read.com/The-Twelve-Dates-of-Christmas https://books2read.com/Single-Bells https://bwlpublishing.ca/donaldson-yarmey-joan/ M...
-
I wanted to create a resource that would not only help keep all the characters sorted but also give a bit of an unofficial preview of the wo...
-
Click here for purchase information I am delighted to announce that the second book in the Cat Tales series, All in the Furry Family , is ...
-
To learn more about Nancy's books click on the cover please. The book launch at The Purple Platypus Bookstore in Castor, Alberta was h...
-
Join the Nokota wave! Click here to order your copy today. Author’s Note This book is a memoir. It reflects the authors’ present recolle...