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Meet Books We Love Author Killarney Sheffield

Killarney Sheffield is an award winning romance author from the rustic Canadian prairies. She lives on a cattle ranch with her five kids. When she is not penning historical romantic adventures she fills her time with her Thoroughbred stallion 'Stamp de Gold', whom she affectionately calls 'Love Monkey', and her herd of AQHA mares.

BWL: How long have you been writing and in what genres? 

KS: I penned my first novel at age 12 called 'Buck'. It was about a wild buckskin stallion and I did all my own illustrations too. However, I signed my first novel contract back in 2010 with a historical romantic adventure called Guilty Kisses now republished with BooksWe Love as The Cracksman's Kiss. Incidentally I also made headlines in many newspapers with the book as I was able to talk 1980's Juno winner/singer/songwriter GOWAN into loaning me a lovely ballad called 'Love Make's You Believe' for the books trailer. AND for those of you wondering who Gowan is or where he ended up, he is the lead singer for the band Styxx. 

BWL: Where you do get your inspiration?

KS: LOL, inspiration comes from so many sources! One of my novel's was inspired by my youngest son's black Holland Lop rabbit, one from a very old Harlequin plot that I thought I could twist even more, one from a show on Animal planet about using mini horses as guide animals for the blind and even a current work in progress inspired by the show Urban Legends. Sometimes it's simply from a snippet of a conversation in my head between two characters begging me to tell their story. 

BWL: Tell us about your book(s). 

KS: I have over 15 published titles now and my 4 original novels have been re written and published here with BooksWe Love. They are historical romances however I am just one of those gals who needs more than crowded ballrooms and pretty manners in a story. I need danger, intrigue, sword fights, damsels and even sometimes heroes in distress! I try to be light on historical info, robust on romance and season with plenty of action so my characters find themselves in ship wrecks, jungles, prisons and lots of foreign countries. In fact, speaking of foreign countries one of my new releases here is called To Love A Horseguard and it is set in Russia, what a wonderful and rich in history country that was to write about! I also try to play around with my heroines a little. They are not all swooning debutantes, for instance in Stand & Deliver Your Love my heroine is a female highway woman, in others words a coach robber who gets herself into a heap of trouble. I love to explore the social politics of the 1800's as well like in The Cracksman's Kiss. It is amazing just how much trouble a young lady to get herself in by allowing one forbidden kiss. Sometimes I like to delve a little deeper into more serious topics of the time period like the fight for Women's Lib in my 2013 Epic Award finalist re-write The Courtesan. So, if you a like a little more to your romances than just boy meets girl and falls in love, happy ever after you might enjoy the books I have on offer here. 

BWL: What about your next book?  Will it be part of a series or a stand alone?  Can you give us a taste to whet our appetites? 

KS:  My next books you mean LOL! I currently have 15 works in progress. I find when a story fizzles on me I like to get the muse going again with another project, what doesn't work for one story often works for another. When the muse gets going really strong is when the book gets finished. I guess one manuscript close to being finished is my first ever apocalyptic romantic adventure 'Imram; A Story Forever.' It is the story of a young woman in a domed city who discovers that the world outside might exist as it did before. It is the tale of her fight for freedom, oppression and for her true love. I hope to finish it by spring 2014. 

BWL: Why did you choose to publish electronically? 

KS: LOL, I didn't, it chose me. Actually, I myself prefer paperback. I have an ereader gathering dust in my closet. I hate it and enjoy curling up by the fire with a blanket and a good old fashioned paperback. According to many of my fans they feel the same way and are eagerly awaiting my releases in paperback. I guess in the small Canadian prairie towns we are a little old-fashioned yet. :) 

BWL: What are your hobbies and interests?

KS: Hobbies? Wow, I seem to remember having those a long time ago... Between 5 kids, writing, workshops, a commercial cattle ranch, my thoroughbred stallion and Quarter Horse mares I have little time for hobbies LOL!

BWL: What does the future hold for you? 

KS:  Well, I hope many more books!

BWL: Where can readers find you?

Website: http://www.killarneysheffieldromanceauthor.com/

Blog: http://killarneysheffield@blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkillarney

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Killarney-Sheffield/141813672530805

Motivate Your Characters and Plot by Rita Karnopp

As with each of us . . . characters in our books change as the story progresses.  The growth of a character is very important.  I think this aspect of writing is sometimes overlooked or even forgotten.  We focus so much on what is happening externally that we forget what is happening internally.

We need to learn what motivates our character as the story progresses.  They must have reasons why they do the things they do.  They must have reasons why they resist the right decision.  They also must have reasons why they react the way they do.  Each of these ‘reasons’ is what motivates our characters as well as drives the plot of the book.

Confused? Don't be; it's simpler than it may seem. Characters can be broken down into four groups:

1.     The never changing character – they refuse to change in personality and motivation.  You get what you see.

2.     The no-personality changer – they don’t change or grow during the story –but they want to. 

3.     The changing character – they change but their motivation does not.

4.     Finally we have the characters who changes throughout the story - as their motivation also progresses.

While plotting out the story we must decide, ‘what is the key motivation for each main character?’  This will add incredible depth to the story.  Always be aware that character and plot are entwined.

The never changing character – I’ve often heard that a character must change – even if in a small way.  Why?  Think about James Bond – he’s smart, debonair’, unstoppable, and he gets the girl.  His character has a single direct motivation the entire length of the story.  At the end, Bond is still smart, debonair’, unstoppable, and he gets the girl.

And when you think about it - his motivation doesn’t change either. He accepts a mission, and he doesn’t stop until it’s accomplished.  There are always the ‘mini’ motivation interruptions such as saving a woman from drowning or escaping a death trap.

We can apply this never changing character with a direct motivation to any genre’.  Our responsibility is to present the reader with a character and goal clearly and powerfully obvious from the start.  There will be no doubt who this character is and why he’s doing what he's doing.   This then gives us (the writer) ‘license’ to complicate the story plot.

Be aware – an unchanging character with a direct goal still can react or respond to more than one emotion at any given moment. Our Mr. Bond might feel attraction to a knock-out blonde and at the same time distrust her.  If your character feels two conflicting things toward another character, bring this to life in the scene in which it happens. Then—and this is the important part—return to the main goal in the next scene.

This tells us that his motivation is unchanged. Although Bond, for instance, has just made love with a woman, she hasn’t fundamentally changed him. He’s not changed in either his behavior or mission as a result of her attractions.

The no-personality changer – This type of story focuses on a character who doesn’t change in persona or attitude, but what he/she wants accepts as a result of story aftermaths.

These characters are often the heroes or villains. The heroes are admirable characters from the beginning. They don’t change because the writer has created a character that is supporting an ideal/situation that he/she clearly represents and embodies.  Say for instance saving an endangered species or leading a group to keep oil from being drilled in sacred Native ground.

The fact is your character starts-out heroic and you don’t want him to change.

The changing character – Then there are the stories where the major character changes notably. The character has a single cause/motivation due to his/her backstory.  Consider Pollyanna’s aunt.  She refused to show kindness and love – because as a young woman she’d been hurt by the man she loved.  A lot had to happen to her before she realized it was okay to reach out and love.  The point here – she had to change for the story/plot to have resolution.

Keep in mind when you write the changing character:

His/her character change must result in response to story consequences or results. Develop the story so your character changes the way you want.

Your character must have emotional responses to these events.

Make sure the character change is emphasized. The ‘change’ must be shown. This is called validation, and it’s crucial for all changing characters.

You must add validation at the end of the story so the reader knows this character’s change is not temporary. Usually this ending validation is on a larger scale than what has gone before.

Readers enjoy and are satisfied at the end of a book when there’s a changing character/single motivation.

Characters who changes throughout the story - as their motivation also progresses -  Of the four characters, this is the most complex fictional pattern. A character’s personality as well as their goals change throughout the story.

Simplify this character – change him/her from a self-centered model to a caring person – putting life in danger to save the child-type.  

With this type of character your hero/heroine’s changes must be dramatic and prove they are a result of the horrendous events, be supported by believably portrayed emotions, and be confirmed by ensuing actions on his/her part.

Books We Love just released Rita’s fifteenth book, Thunder

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FM1IO0U

Mingan (Gray Wolf) is certain his twin brother wouldn’t commit suicide. Entering the world of professional wrestling and fulfilling Thunder’s obligations, Mingan begins by scrutinizing everything around Thunder’s life, starting with the beautiful and haunting Chloe. As hard as he tries to keep her at a distance, he’s pulled to her like adrenaline on a choke hold. If they find his niece, they’ll find his brother’s killer . . . or will they uncover something more sinister going on?