THE TAUREG IN FICTION

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU READ SOMETHING ABOUT THE TAUREG IN FICTION?

IF YOU' ARE INTERESTED INTHE TAUREG OF ALGERIA, THOSE WONDERFUL BLUE- VEILED MEN  OF THE SAHARA, YOU CAN FIND THEM IN MY  NOVEL, MARCEL'S GIFT.

NOW AVAILABLE IN eBOOK AND PRINT VERSIONS FROM AMAZON.COM

ARE YOU A WINE SNOB? I AM !

From an early age ( 8-9 yrs.old) I was introduced to the "grape" and have been hooked ever since.
I recall Sunday dinners at my grandparents' house when I, being the oldest of all the cousins, was given a tablespoon of grandpa's robust red in my jelly glass off water. and I played my part well participating in saluting any and all toasts and raising my little glass with those of the adults.

Now, as an adult, I have been baptized the wine snob. Not that I know everything there is to know about wine, but my friends think I do. Especially, when they read my novel, Marcel's Gift, where the main characters are wine afficionados.

Even my writing friends, consult with me when they need to know which wine to mention in their books. I always answer, "It depends."

It depends on age, sex, ethnic background, time of day, reason for drinking, etc.

I give them my best advice, but usually follow it up with "check the Internet."

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHARACTERS SPEAK TO YOU.

LISTEN!

With my historical romance novel, LADY MIRIELLE'S FLIGHT,complete and emailed to the agent who requested it, I thought I'd have some leisure time to "fool around" with short stories and contest entries, but my secondary characters in the story had something else in mind for me.

No matter how I try to keep them at bay, they infiltrate my thoughts, and my dreams, or should I call them nightmares? I find myself constantly creating mental images, scenarios and plot lines for sequels.

That is all well and good, but the problem is the research. When I finished Lady Mirielle's Flight,
I thought if  I ever wrote another historical piece I'd be hysterical.  Hysterical as in madness."Too much research!

 I am now an expert (almost) on the type of clothing, foods, horses, housing, money, mannerism etc. etc. of the Middle Ages. Want to know what kind of bread folks ate in the mid- 1500s?  Depends.
Were they the upper or lower class of society?  No choice was simple. Did they drink mead or malmsey? Did they ride horses or ponies?  Which kind? Bays or Northumberlands?  What kind of armor? Do you know the difference between a shield and a buckler? Getting the picture?

I've developed a new admiration for those authors who write in this venue.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to listen to my characters. One  of them might persuade me.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS ARE PILING UP

When I first began writing, I dreamed about the days I'd be invited to writers' conferences and events.
Well, my dreams are coming true.

I've just been invited to speak at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.. Their creative writing club has asked me to do a program on writing and getting published. What an honor!

The topics I will try to cover are: How to keep your manuscript out of the reject pile.
                                                      Queries vs. "Pitches" to agents/the value of conferences.
                                                       How to enter writing contests...and win!
Also, the Lynchburg Parks & Recreation Dept. has asked me to do a seminar on writing novels, short short stories and memoirs.

Later this month, I will be a panelist (surely this must be a dream!) at the Rustburg Library's "Writers' Circle."  Format is interactive (Q & A) with opening remarks from panelists. Can't wait!

Happily, each event will allow me to sell my contemporary romance novel, Marcel's Gift, and my eBook, Hurry Up Charlie.

Dreams do come true.

BACK TO NORMAL--WHATEVER THAT IS.

I'm certainly happy to be back in front of my computer after months of hours spent in veterinary clinics for my late dachshund, Ebenezer, cardiology offices for my husband, in hospitals for my husband (a stent) and me ( two eye surgeries).  But, I'm not quite finished yet. Just had my pre-op consultation and tests done at UVA for the removal of a parathyroid gland (Oct. 25th). Yes, as the old saying goes, "When it rains, it pours."

In between all these disruptions, I had to finish a re-write on my novel, Lady Mirielle's Flight. that an agent was waiting to see.

Now, I truly hope things will return to normal.

New Release: Hurry Up, Charlie!

It's here!  "Hurry Up, Charlie," my award winning short story is paired with a bonus story--also an award winning story--"No Trespassing!  

 My publisher has also added a "teaser" at the end of the book -- the prologue and 1st. chapter of "Marcel's Gift." Watch for these FREE dates:  June 26th. July 1st, Aug. 10th, Sept. 10th, on Amazon,com.

PRINT VERSION of MARCEL'S GIFT AVAILABLE.

 
     The good news is my debut ebook novel, MARCEL'S  GIFT, has gone to print format.
   
    It can be purchase via link--http://tinyurl.com/mc-mg-print.

    Hope all of you who support me in this endeavor will enjoy the read. Before ordering you can sneak a peek and "Look Inside" to read the prologue and first chapter by going to Amazon.com and clicking on Books. Enter the name of the book, click on it, and the "Look Inside" feature will show up. You can also read its reviews. However, it must be purchased via the link noted above. Thanks.

Anticipating "Charlie."

        In a few days my publisher, Echelon Press, will release my short story "Hurry Up Charlie" in its Echelon Shorts ebooks on Amazon. There will be a "Bonus" story inside, too, another of my First Place prize-winning stories..."No Trespassing!"  It will be offered  at 99 cents, but watch for freebee.

THE TV INTERVIEW FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BLACK LAGOON

Let  me say, there is nothing nore sobering than being interviewed by the host of your local TV station.

Not to worry! I had been interviewed on TV before regarding civic matters and art club activities. Why should this be any different?

I arrived at my appointed time and waited for the technicians to finish taping a puppet show. (What an act to follow).

The first inkling that things may not go smoothly came when the microphone kept sliding off my blouse,which was a silky fabric. So, necessity being the mother of invention,  they placed a credit card under my blouse to give stability to the mike.

That worked. Good, on to the next step. The audio check had to be done twice.  Hadn't they ever set the audio controls for an authentic Jersey City accent before? I guess not in Lynchburg, Virginia, they hadn't. When the tech was satisfied, the taping began.

The quetions were easy. The host had asked me to provide her with a sample list of guestions, which I did.   No surprises, right?  Almost right.

I felt relaxed, no "nerves" or dry throat. But this was all in my fools' paradise. After 4 minutes of interviewing she asked me to give a short premise of my book, Marcel's Gift. Everything suddenly shut down. I went blank. Here I was supposed to be promoting my book and I couldn't remember the 'hook line" or the "pitch" I had given so many times to others. Well, ad-libbing must be one of my fortes. I babbled some words about the story and apparently didn't give away the twist ending. The TV host said (off the air) she couldn't wait to read it.

Friends and fellow writers who saw the piece said  "Great interview." They said I looked so" professional," so "in control." I hope they weren't kidding me.
.

I'M BEGINNING TO FEEL FAMOUS.

     I have a funny feeling creeping over me...sort of like "Goose Bumps"...but better.

     In the process of marketing my book,  "MARCEL'S GIFT"I have been invited to be interviewed on our local TV channel WSET, have been accepted to speak at the local chapter of Pen Women and my work is being reviewed by a local service organization for a possible speaking engagement.

      I had better start making cue-cards.

WHERE'S THE JUSTICE?

  Let's just keep putting hand guns into the hands of nit-wits and crazies and we'll have more tragedies like the assassination of young Trayvon Martin.

Let's just keep doing nothing about the Nat'l. Rifle Assoc. (NRA) lobbying our politicians and donating big, big bucks to their re-election  campaigns (Republican and Democrats, alike) and we'll never see an end to violence.

Some people just  can't repress the power surge that comes with killing another human and they should not be gifted with the means to do so.

Where's the justice?  Where's the justice for Trayvon, for his family, for the outraged.

And we call ourselves civilized?

A CONFERENCE TO REMEMBER

     The WRITE STUFF writers' conference in Allentown, Pa, this weekend was all I expected it to be. This was the second time I attended their conference. The confernce committee did a wonderful job again this year. The keynote speaker was James Scott Bell--he was spellbinding.
    
     The conference sessions were varied and I surely learned a lot. I felt like I had gotten an infusion of adrenalin and now I'm all juiced up to not only write but write better.

IS JAMES WAITING FOR ME?

    
     With only two weeks to go, I've been rushing around getting everything together for the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers' Conf. I'll be attending in Allentown, Pa.


     James Scott Bell is the keynote speaker and if any of you know him and/or his work, this should be a dynamite conference. My friend, Charmaine Davis, who tweets with him, told him I was eagerly waiting to see and hear him. I wonder if I should put a sign around my neck, "Here I am James."


     I'm also looking forward to my assigned meeting with one of the litrary agents from Donald Maass' Agency. I'll be "pitching" my lastest novel to her and hoping for the best.

WRITING AS ART.

          Years ago, as a first time visitor to Paris’ Louvre Museum, I found myself emotionally overcome (yes, I mean tears, folks)  when I came to face to face with Giotto's’ altarpiece St. Francis talking to the birds. Lured by an unidentified magnetism, I endured the tears that I tried to hide, as I stood inches from the painting—touched by the realization that  I was standing in the same circle of space  as the artist—my breath kissing the same area of the work that the artist’s breath had warmed.

            The figure in the painting had returned Giotto's stare just as it was now returning mine. My eyes focused at the same level as the artist's. My nose inhaled the ancient paints and lacquers  just as  Giotto had dizzied from the  fresh smell of linseed oil mixed with  finely pulverized pigments as he applied them--brush kissing the canvas.

            Where his shadow, anchored by his shoes, had darkened the floor in front of his canvas, mine now did the same.

            Up close, detailed color particles gave the masterpiece a mottled look.  Inspecting the brush strokes, I saw the path of his progress. The crowded dabs of color gave life to the whole when seen from a distance.

            I studied the painting. The dull grisaille of the under-painting was barely noticeable under the finishing colors and the sealant. Each step employed by the artist gave authenticity to the process of creating a masterful work of art.

            It is the same with writing. An author’s premise is the under- painting, words, sentences and paragraphs—the detailed particles. The first draft is the primer, the grisailles—the re-writes. The editing is the polish that finishes and preserves the work.

            All the layers are there, just as they are in the visual arts. That’s how we get masterpieces in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. We can approach writing as if it was art, or we can approach writing like the art it is.

MY THANKS TO YOU ALL!

   

       I want to give my most special and sincere thanks to those of you who have purchased my debut 
novel, MARCEL'S GIFT from Amazon.com.

      Writing this love story was an enjoyable process...it was the galley editing, and line-by-line editing that was the challenge. You can not imagine how many times I used the word "was." By the time I edited them out and/or changed the sentences I was "was-sy."

       Now, it is time to market my work.  So I am aking you all to spread the word about Marcel's Gift to your friends, relatives etc. Please tell them it can be downloaded to Kindle, ipad, iphone, pc, Mac, and Blackberry.

       I will appreciate your comments, and if I l may ask you, "Please leave a review" on Amazon.com.

        Thank you again.--Marie

With MARCEL'S GIFT on Amazon, What's Next?

Now with the final chapter written, the editing and line-by-line revisions done, ans seeing my name and my book on Amazon, I ask myself, What's Next?

My husband would probably suggest, how about some deep housecleaning,or isn't it time to turn the mattresses? Yes, I've been neglectful, but with good reason as you will see when you order my debut novel, Marcel's Gift from Amazon to your Kindle, ipad, iphone, Mac, or blackberry. Check it out.

Thanks for your support.

I write Romance Novels that excite and Bite Size stories that delight.

" MARCEL'S GIFT " HAS ARRIVED !

I am happy to report that my debut novel, "Marcel's Gift"  is now available as an eBook through Amazon.com.


Price  $2.99


DOWNLOAD NOW to your ereader, Kindle, iphone, ipad.

1 WEEK... AND COUNTING. BLAST-OFF TIME FOR " MARCEL'S GIFT."

One week to go till BLAST OFF! 

"MARCEL'S GIFT" IS ON THE LAUNCH-PAD AND EVERYTHING IS A-OK.

LAUNCH DATE; FEB. 15, 2012.-- Price: $2.99

DOWNLOAD TO: Kindle, ipad, iphone, PC--(You know the drill).

"MARCEL'S GIFT" ARRIVES IN 2 WEEKS.

       My husband said he feels like an expectant father pacing the waiting room while the baby gets ready to make its entrance. Well, if he feels like that, you can imagine how I feel. My due date is getting near. I hope you will add my "baby" to your ereaders.

     In just 2 weeks, (Feb. 15th) my debut novel, MARCEL'S GIFT, a contemporary love story, will be available from Amazon.com.

  "One heart: two men. She's found the love of her life. Too bad it isn't the man she's in love with."
                                                    
                                                      SYNOPSIS:
    
      Solange and Ambrose meet in the south of France--a meeting as unpredictable as it was predestined. Yet, it fit into the dark diagonal spaces where love often finds a foothold and loiters there waiting to capture and break the human heart.
     Ambrose brings Solange into his arms and eventually into his bed, sidestepping the issues that she is happily married, he is a Catholic priest, and her husband Marcel's gift sanctions the affair.   
     The lovers' voyage of forbidden love sends the reader on a highly sensual romantic journey spanning three continents: touching down on the birthplace of Impressionism in the ancient cities of France, the hot desert sands of Algiers with its blue-veiled men of the Sahara and the private, sacrosanct, papal chambers of the Vatican. 


     

THE VALUE OF WRITERS' CONFERENCES

  It's that time of year to start thinking about writers' conferences and of what value they serve to help you make a decision. I'd like to share my experiences with you.

   The very first conference I attended was sponsored by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers in Allentown, Pa. last March. The keynote speaker was the well-known  N.Y.C. agent, Donald Maass, who was so inspiring that I felt the urge to leave the conference and head back to Lynchburg, Va and start writing, but I didn't, of course. Prior to the conference, I had signed up for a one-on-one with an agent and just by luck of the draw, I was paired with the publisher of Echelon Press, who immediately upon hearaing my "pitch" requested my whole manuscript of "Marcel's Gift". She wanted no query, no synopsis. She accepted me as a client and my debut novel will  be released in ebook form the middle of February 2012.

   The second success I had at conferences was at the Hampton Roads Writers conference last Sept.  Once again I pre-registered for a one-on-one with an agent, who after hearing my "pitch" asked to seek  more of my work- in- progress novel, "Lady Mirielle's Flight". She made some suggestions, which I tried to incorporated into my storyline but they just weren't working, but it did give me some ideas for expanding my story.
 
   Now I have some wonderful options:   I can offer it to my first publisher, Echelon Press, who I loved working with, or to the agent from the HRW conference or put it out there simultaneously?

   My point is, you can try contacting agents with queries, as I have, but I  had much more success in face-to-face meetings at conferences.Try it you'll like it.

    So far, I am considering the following conferences for 2012:
          The Roanoke Regional Writing conf.at Hollins Univ. (end of Jan.).
           The Greater Lehigh Valley Writers' conference (March).
           The Hampton Roads Writers' conference (Sept).