Yes, it’s a little quiet around here. I’m in the process of getting ready for the WRW writer’s retreat this weekend and it’s a little consuming. Added to regular life and well, that equals no blog. But, I did have something very cool happen in regards to BEYOND FATE earlier in the month and I’m keeping my fingers crossed extra tight and my lips zipped.
What else? I’m making some exciting headway on the second Legion book. My evil baddie, Serpense, just served me up his first scene in the book and I love it! Maybe I’ll share some of his naughtiness with you when I get back.
Well, I really must get back to researching agents and fine-tuning my pitch, all that fun stuff! And to make up for the gross buggy picture, here’s another of my inspiration shots for my hero, Cade. Enjoy!
Legion Warrior, Cade Dacien (oh, okay, Taylor Kitsch)
I’ve mentioned I worked for Borders. This week has made me miss the store itself more than any other since we closed back in September. Two of my absolute favorite authors released new books in their ongoing series. I’ve had two very different experiences with getting a hold of these books. And yes, I’m living in the stone-age. I still want the actual, honest-to-god book in my hand.
First experience: I’ve gone on and on about my love for Stacia Kane‘s writing. Her newest book SACRIFICIAL MAGIC released this week and I have been dying for it.
Click to buy!
We only have one big bookstore around here now and no one likes it. No one. I won’t say which it is – burning potential bridges and all – but it stinks. It’s also in our local mall, which doesn’t make it any more appealing. But I NEED my book. So, I brave the mall, go in, try to find where in God’s name they might actually put her books, and finally find the Fantasy section. Hit the “K”‘s and nothing. Nada, not one single book in the now four book series. Borders always had them. I’m not happy and attempt to find a bookseller. I track one down and he has clearly no idea what I’m talking about. Now, I don’t expect a bookseller to know every book. But, he checks the computer and no, they don’t carry her. When I mention it’s a new release he tells me that he’s sure they’ll have it, even though the computer says they won’t. Soooo…..then he helpfully tells me that if they were to get it in, it would be under the “K”‘s in Fantasy and proceeds to teach me the alphabet. Really? I wanted to go on a Borders rant – that our booksellers weren’t quite so challenged and that we always had new releases. But what good would it do? Borders is gone and I can’t resurrect it. But hell, I don’t have my book. I mention to him that they really should stock her books, how great they are and he just looks at me.
Now, my only other options are typical: Target, Wal-Mart, grocery stores. Nope, no book. If you don’t write a book that already has a gazillion readers, then you’re not in there. Which is a very sad state. How do readers find new, quality authors to read? I’m in a quandry. I don’t want to download it. I want the surprise and joy of finding it there, waiting for me, on a bookshelf. I want to read the back copy. To pick the cover that is in the best condition. I don’t want Amazon to throw a copy in a box and send it in a few days. I want it now. So, what do I do? I give in. I go home and click on the ever easy “Buy Now” button and there it is on my e-reader that is always out of battery life. Do I love the book so far? Hell yeah! Do I still wish I had a copy to hold? Indeed.
Second Experience: I need to read J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood like some people need Crack. Now, she’s a NYT bestseller which means all those stores I mentioned above have her books, no prob. I knew I could zip next door to Target when they opened and grab my copy. Easy as pie. But, it’s not a bookstore. It’s not the same. Am I whining? Yup. As I told the cashier, “Please don’t put the soap in with my book. It’ll make it smell. Actually, let me just carry it.” I don’t want my lovely book in a bag with stuff that’s going to make it smell, get it wet, rip it, etc. It makes my booklover heart race! She was kind and understanding and made me laugh. She said, “I’m just happy to see someone buying a book other than the Hunger Games.” It was a very bookseller comment to make in a non-bookselling environment. It made me a little hopeful and brought back a tiny bit of my Borders experience.
Never shall the two meet...
But, man, I miss release day there. My friends and I would get giddy to see “our” books on the merch carts, getting ready to be placed on the tables. We could pick our copies first, squee with the fangirls when they came in to buy. Maybe it’s silly, to have this love over something that everyone else seems to have moved on from. I don’t think so, though. I will be dragged, kicking and screaming, into this revolution. And even though I downloaded it, I’m still determined to get my hands on a copy of SACRIFICIAL MAGIC. Maybe I need to go visit my friend at the mall again.
Since today is Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d share a peek into the hero and heroine of my book, Beyond Fate. Cade is a Legion warrior with power over the element of Earth. Aris is a civilian, an EarthWalker, whose Legion father is murdered and his elemental powers are given to her. Once they meet, their attraction is powerful and bound by fate.
Music is something I can’t live without and I love finding songs that belong to my characters. When I heard “Resistance” by Muse, I knew it was Cade & Aris’s love song. She’s in danger, having powers forbidden to women. He’s on a tight wire, protecting this woman who is betraying the Legion. Not to mention the fact that a murderer is on the loose. It’s a tough world for them right now and Muse’s lyrics speak perfectly to what they’re experiencing:
“Is our secret safe tonight And are we out of sight Or will our world come tumbling down? Will they find our hiding place Is this our last embrace Or will the walls start caving in?”
It just makes me sigh…then picture Cade pushing Aris up against the wall in a passionate kiss, causing her new powers to go awry. Not to mention that I totally picture Cade as a buffed up Taylor Kitsch. *Phew*
Enjoy this Valentine’s Day with the one you love or curl up with your book boyfriend and run away to his world. Or both! xoxo
2nd Place: Tara Lynn Mosby — Beyond Fate: A Novel of the Legion Warriors
3rd Place: Joy Hancock — The Inquisitor
I took 2nd place, which I know logically is an awesome thing. It’s taken me over a month to accept that because I’m hard on myself, not because I’m ungrateful. In my head, I either do well or not. I’ve got no in-between setting when it comes to myself. Other people? Absolutely. I believe in extending grace. I’m a moron, I know.
I’m getting the book ready for another contest next week. This time it’s my local RWA chapter, WRW, and their Marlene contest. I’m excited but nervous. Trying to decide what to take of the last judge’s comments combined with deciding exactly which category to enter it in – paranormal or romantic elements – has my brain ticking away on overdrive.
Speaking of judge’s comments, they are an interesting thing. This being my first contest, I really looked forward to having completely unbiased opinions. The first round judges were fairly unanimous in their thoughts. The final judges were also mostly unanimous in their own – quite different – thoughts. So, what do you do with that? Take to heart the ones who can give you a career or the ones who might be your readers someday? Of course, I held on to the ones that were not glowing easier than I did the ones that were. Did I mention the moron thing?
Best of all, I’m learning more and more of the craft. I may not agree or make the changes but every comment got me thinking and investigating ways to make the book even better. So, cross your fingers. It’ll be awhile yet before anything happens with the Marlene contest, but I’m hoping and praying. C’mon full request!
Full disclosure: I’m a total fangirl. You may have already noticed this. Well, last week, I had the fantastic opportunity to relive a much loved memory. And yeah, this post is going to totally age me.
When I was a girl, my walls were plastered with posters of whatever band I was in love with at the time. And when I was in love – I tell you, I was in L-O-V-E. One of the biggest influences on my young tween years was Duran Duran. I can’t tell you how insanely in love I was with them. If there was something with those boys’ faces on it, I had it. I loitered at the local Waxie Maxie’s record store to find any rare 12″ straight from the U.K. that I didn’t already own. I scoured the local newstand for any magazine with the tiniest tidbit. Books, pins, posters, records, shirts – if it came from England, all the better. When John Taylor wore a fedora, so did I. When Nick Rhodes wore his white, lace-up shoes, so did I. I really, really wanted the blonde stripe in my bangs like John, but alas, that was not to be.
I fell in love with them in 1981, when their first video “Planet Earth” hit the U.S. There are a few instances where I can pinpoint the first time I heard a band and it changed something within me. To me, there was something captivating about their sound and of course, they were bloody good looking too! Duran Duran ushered in a tremendous love for all things British, which continues to this day. They introduced me to other fantastic British New Wave music like The Cure, Depeche Mode, and The Smiths. My world just opened wide when they entered.
When the band toured for Seven and the Ragged Tiger, I finally got to see them live. I suppose I was about 13. I wept, literally wept, to see them in real life. It was overwhelming and amazing to be in the same room with this band I worshipped. I’m pretty sure my father is still scarred.
This year, I turned much, much older than 13 and for this large birthday number, my mom offered to buy me tickets to see Duran Duran and opening band, Neon Trees (who I also love with much abandon). Her only request was that I didn’t completely humiliate whoever went with me. I think I managed that (or my son is being nice and told me I didn’t, either way). I will admit to getting a little teary when the band was all assembled on the stage and Simon Le Bon started to sing. It was chilling to see the love for them in that room. Most everyone was on their feet, singing, dancing, hands in the air. You never would have known that this band had been around since 1978 and the majority of people in that room were over 40.
Between both bands, I haven’t had that much fun in who knows how long. I was a sweaty, no-voice-left mess by the end!
So, all this reminiscing got me wondering – who from your childhood or teen years touched your life in a way that has stayed with you? I’m talking bands, authors, actors. Let me know, I’m curious.
*** On a side note, I would love to go on about my current love for Neon Trees, but since this is a post about childhood heroes, I’ll refrain. For now. But, do yourself a big favor and check them out. Especially their lead singer, Tyler Glenn. (It’s a public service I’m doing here on that count. Mmmhmm. Anyway.) Enjoy!
So, I vanished for a little bit. I did not get swept away by a hurricane, despite Mother Nature’s efforts. There is no good story to explain the absence, it just happens sometimes, the need to climb back in the cave and be a hermit. But I’m here now and that’s what counts, right?
Seriously though, here’s one thing I did while I was not blogging and let me say – best writing spot ever! I could sit there for the rest of forever. Just keep me supplied with books, my notebook or laptop, and a never-ending supply of Diet Coke and life would be all kinds of awesome.
So, really, what have I been doing? Have I finished Book 2? Have I sent a gazillion more queries out? Um, nope. I closed out all the queries I sent in late spring/early summer, figuring no news is bad news. Book 2 is coming along well – albeit slowly – and I’m in love with the story idea. I want to have a big ol’ chunk of it ready by contest announcement time. Because - of course – the editor judging BEYOND FATE will have a burning need to acquire it and having Book 2 on the way would just be icing on the cake. See how I’ve got this whole dream world rockin’ in my head?
Another thing I’ve been doing that’s causing large amounts of trauma to my psyche? Picking a head shot for the contest awards program. See, I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I’ve decided that in every photo I look like I’m melting. Or my left eye has developed a mind of its own and is wreaking havoc on my face. Every single picture is worthy of a horror novel. Really. I’m not fishing. My name is Tara and I’m a perfectionist. See, I own it. My son, a budding photographer, refuses to help me any longer after a torture session at a North Carolina lighthouse in which I made him take shot after shot after shot after shot…. Way to kill a budding dream, Mom. My own mother, who is a brilliant photographer, had us laughing at me and my drama so much, that nothing good came out of our try either. I’m a damn mess, I tell you. I’ll stick one of the photos on here later in the week, as the deadline for the photo is looming and I have to pick one. Hopefully it won’t traumatize you. HaHa.
Speaking of pictures, I love to roam around and take photos of things that inspire me for my novels. It can be anything from how the light from the moon carries across the clouds at night to the one of the hottest things – weapons. Yeah, baby.
We found these kick-ass knife rings at the Maryland Renaissance Festival and someone in my books is totally wearing these. Fierce, right?
I love to find things in real life that make me see my characters. I found Cade’s house in an old neighborhood, his and Tyson’s Harley’s in an airport (yes, inside), and someone who could be Silas walked right past me one day. In my head, I can see the characters leaping with their hands in the air yelling “Ooh, me, that’s mine!”. I’m definitely the type of writer who sees her story, where the characters sort of unfurl their story in my head and I translate it best I can. I feel privileged when they show me these pieces of themselves. These rings belong to one of my Sirens and she is going to kick some major ass. It was an exciting peek into her persona, one I hadn’t quite glimpsed yet.
So, I’m off because sharing this little bit about them has me excited to jump right back into my work and write more of their world for you to (I hope) one day fall into.
