Round Robin Blog Fest November 17 2018

Back again this month for the Round Robin Blog Fest!!
November's question is:  How has writing rewarded you? What has it cost you?

Writing has given me an outlet for when life gets rough. When my parents would argue when I was a kid, while going through physical pain then a marital separation as an adult, writing helped keep me sane. It also brought me a connection to my kids when I wrote them stories to read at bedtime.

I'm grateful to have many people in my writing group as well as at events. I've even had the thrill of appearing at a coffee shop event then having someone (not a friend) recognize me as a writer days later! That completely made my day.

Our local library does an event every fall called WOW - Words the Orangeville Way. This fall was our third annual event and I'm grateful to be a part of it each time and have the library staff excited to see my new books come out. They're always first in line to purchase them for their own collections as well as for the library.

While I'm not widely recognized in the community, it's fun to see familiar faces in the audience and meet other writers.

What has writing cost me?

Off the cuff, I'd say my marriage, but my writing was merely a small part of the issues there.

What it has cost me at times is my sanity, especially when closing in on deadlines and trying to market my work. This year, I've not only written one new novel, but edited three others for republication in 2018.

I've been fortunate to finally find a partner who supports and understands my need to create. He gets when I need to have some quiet time to work on novels. He's even driven me to events and carried my books in from the parking lot and celebrates all my accomplishments with me and pats me on the back when I need it the most.

At the end of the day, I'd say writing gives me far more rewards than anything. I love how my youngest son used my book in a shoe box project he did once the demonstrate the things that he loved. When I asked him why he put a copy of my very first novella in his box, he said that if I could follow my dream and get a book published then he could do anything. Yes, that made me cry!

Follow your dreams just as my fellow writers have done. Please check out what their rewards and costs have been and leave comments for us all:

Skye Taylor 
Judith Copek 
Beverley Bateman 
A.J. Maguire  
Fiona McGier 
Dr. Bob Rich 
Connie Vines 
Diane Bator 
Victoria Chatham 
Rhobin L Courtright 

Round Robin Blog Fest October 2018

It's been a while since I was part of the Round Robin Blog Fest. Over the past six months I've been editing my 3 Gilda Wright Mysteries to republish them with a new publisher. Two have already been re-released as Dead Without Honor and Dead Without Glory.

On top of everything else, I've added one more novel to my Wild Blue Mystery series. I've completed book number four. The Painted Lady will be released very soon as well. 

As if that isn't enough, I will be releasing a whole new series in 2019! Stay tuned!

How do you develop the tension every story needs to keep the reader involved?

I love when a novel (or even a short story) tells a great story, keeps me entertained and intrigued, and isn’t totally predictable. I’m a sucker for a solid character who is far from perfect.

To keep readers engaged, I use a number of techniques:

·       A character discovering something they shouldn’t know

·       A plot twist – throwing a monkey wrench into the protagonist’s journey

·       Romantic interactions that hint at more to come

·       The protagonist learning something vital to his/her investigation

·       Engaging readers’ emotions

·       Clear and concise writing

All of these are great little hooks to keep readers hanging on to see what happens next, especially with little cliff hangers at the end of chapters.

Just for fun, here’s a little piece from my soon to be released novel Dead Without Pride:

Kane drew in a deep breath. “Okay, love, I didn’t want to have to do this.”

“Do what?”

He lunged around the coffee table to sit on the couch next to her then looked her in the eyes. “Gilda, my darling, you are the only person I trust to help me get this train wreck back on track. My ex-girlfriend left me with a disaster, and I could really use your…um…” His gaze darted down her tank top. “…expertise to help me build the kind of place I want to run.”

Damn those gorgeous eyes and phony Australian accent. Kane knew he had her intrigued the second he set foot through the door. No way would she make this easy.

“No.” Her voice wavered, like her entire body. She closed her eyes and used thoughts of Mick as a shield between them. “I have enough on my plate trying to keep an eye on things at the school while Mick’s out of town.”

“When does he come back?” he asked, his breath sweet with peppermint like he’d planned to get close.

If she told him Friday, she’d set herself up for problems. Today was only Tuesday, and Kane would salivate at the thought of planning out her entire week, both at work and outside of the martial arts school. “Tomorrow.”

“I see. So what time do you have to be at work today?” His gaze never left hers.

Her palms grew moist. “Noon.”

“Then we’ve got lots of time.” Kane stroked her jaw with one finger. “And I have you all to myself for at least the next three hours, love.”

Gilda backed away as far as she could. “Whoa. I don’t think this is such a good idea.”

“Come on, love, it’s a great idea. What are we waiting for?” He grabbed her hand and yanked her off the couch toward the front door. They were halfway to the door before her feet hit the ground.

Find out more at:  

BWL Publishing:  http://www.bookswelove.com/authors/bator-diane-mystery/

On Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diane-Bator-Author/263599617046736?ref=hl

Visit my fellow authors at:

Beverley Bateman 
Anne Stenhouse  
Skye Taylor 
A.J. Maguire  
Dr. Bob Rich 
Helena Fairfax 
Diane Bator 
Judith Copek 
Rhobin L Courtright 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I've popped out from beneath mounds of editing long enough to with everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and let you all know I'll be at the Brampton Artist's Festival this coming Saturday, October 13 from 10am - 4pm with my books. The festival takes place at Bramalea Retirement Residence at 30 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton.

Another piece of good news is that I've finished The Painted Lady and sent the manuscript off to my wonderful publisher Books We Love. If you've lost count, that's book Number 7!
The one last book slated for 2018 is Dead Without Pride which I plan to submit on time Oct 15 for republishing.

I had an amazing local photographer take some incredible headshots for my upcoming new books, public events, and websites. I'll be uploading those as soon as all these edits are done. In the meantime, here is a look at the postcards I'll be handing out this weekend....

I'll also be attending WOW at the Orangeville Public Library this coming November.
Watch for details!

Upcoming Events!!

Looks like this fall will be a busy one! I'm starting to do a few more public events and getting both The Painted Lady and Dead Without Pride ready for my publisher before October 15. 

After that, I'll be working on Book Five for my Wild Blue Mystery series and Book Four for my Gilda Wright Mysteries! 

Once those are done.... much, much more to come, my friends!

Coffee, Conversations & Books Author Event – Diane Bator

September 19, 2018, 7pm-8pm   Jelly Café, Shelburne 

Local self-published author Diane Bator rekindled her passion for writing in 2007 when she joined Dufferin County’s foremost writing group, the Headwaters Writers’ Guild. She has written assorted short stories, murder mysteries, and YA novellas. Her first murder mystery, Murder on Manitou, was published after winning a writing contest in 2010. In 2016, Diane was nominated to be an Established Artist of the Year at Orangeville’s Celebration of the Arts. 

To register for Coffee, Conversation and Books email Jade Noble: jnoble@shelburnelibrary.ca This month's venue is the Jelly Craft Bakery in Shelburne. Refreshments provided.

Brampton Artists Festival

Saturday, October 13, from 10am - 4pm

30 Peel Centre Drive (Next to Bramalea City Centre, Bramalea Retirement Residence)

Join us for The ARTISTS Festival - a cultural intersection where the residents and the general public can meet artists from the local and GTA arts and culture scene.  Celebrate the creative arts, enjoy performances, and discover artistic treasures in over 30 displays; a select marketplace showcased within an elegant atrium venue. ​Stay for the day, enjoy performances and displays, book a tour of the Bramalea Retirement Residence at the festival for five free raffle tickets towards the Prize Packages.   

 Looking for a good read?  Check out my books!

BWL Publishing Inc.:  http://www.bookswelove.com/authors/bator-diane-mystery/

Amazon US:   https://www.amazon.com/Diane-Bator/e/B009CGCPRE

   

June 23 Round Robin Blog

Life keeps intruding into my writing  and blogging time, but here I am back with another Round Robin Blog!

This month's question:  Why do you write or feel compelled to write even through the difficult parts?

I have no problem starting a story, usually by the end, there are parts where I stumble and even avoid until I have the time and the energy to tackle them. I feel compelled to write through the difficult parts in order to grow both as a person and as a writer. The difficult parts of my stories are usually things that are hard on an emotional or personal level. Or complicated. Once I’ve written them, I feel much lighter.

Much of my journey as a writer seems to involve parts of my own life. Sometimes I will write pieces as therapy, but not all of these bits make it into a book. If they do, they’re lighter and funnier, or resolved differently.

I’m proud to announce the re-release of my Gilda Wright Mysteries. My former publisher released me from my contract and my wonderful Canadian publisher Books We Love, Ltd. Has offered to republish them with cleaner edits and fresh new covers.

Introducing the release of:

Dead Without Honor (formerly Can’t Keep a Brunette Down)

The other two books - Dead Without Glory and Dead With Pride out will be released later this year along with a fourth book in my Wild Blue Mystery Series.

 I hope you'll visit the other participants in this month's blog fest!

Dr. Bob Rich

Marie Laval 
Connie Vines 
Beverley Bateman
Marci Baun 
A.J. Maguire 
Helena Fairfax 
Anne Stenhouse 
Fiona McGier 

Skye Taylor 
Margaret Fieland 
Rhobin L Courtright 

Victoria Chatham 

An Interesting Week

I was waiting until contracts were signed and everything was official, but here goes:

My publisher, Gemma Halliday Publishing, has given me back the rights to my Gilda Wright mystery series. Those books will no longer be available for sale - aside from the few I have left on my shelves.
The good news is they will be republished by another publisher! More details to follow!

But that's not where my news ends.
Currently, I have one new novel being considered for publication which I've just completed rewrites on tonight (nope, not naming names yet!) and one more proposal I'm awaiting news on from yet another publisher. If you're counting, that's two books in two separate, brand new series!

AND I will have Book #4 in the Wild Blue Mystery series--The Painted Lady--coming out late this year!

Lots to look forward to on the writing front for sure.

Stay tuned for details and - hopefully - even more great news!!  How bloomin' good is that?

January 20 Round Robin Blog

Welcome back!
Okay, I know I said I'd be better about posting on my blog, but life has this funny way of saying "No you won't."  Between a nasty cold and work, it's taken me a bit to get back on here.
In the meantime, I'm working on some revisions with two novels in the wings and eager to dive back into making my books reality!

In the meantime....

Here I am with another Round Robin Blog post. Our topic today:

Considering viewpoints in writing (omniscient, ie. author's viewpoint, or first person, second person, or third person in character's viewpoint), what is your preferred way of exposing your characters, their thoughts and emotions? How do you switch between characters?

For anyone who has read my novels, I normally write in third person (he said/she said). All of my books are written this way except the one I'm currently working on, which is in first person (I said). Why the switch? Partly it was a requirement of the publisher I was originally writing it for, but I kind of like it for a this particular series. No other characters deep, dark thoughts to be concerned about, just what my main character Laken sees, knows and hears.

Because I use mostly third person, I generally have two main characters I write between. For me, I don't like "head hopping" or jumping from one character to the other so quickly the reader becomes disoriented. I've read novels where the writer has taken that approach and find it difficult to follow the plot and keep the characters straight. I prefer taking my time in a chapter and switching to another character in the next chapter.

Short and sweet today. My question to you, dear reader, is which viewpoint do you prefer to read?

I hope you leave me an answer then hop around to visit some of our other amazing authors!

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1ag

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/ Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blogFiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/Marci Baun  http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/Anne de Gruchy https://annedegruchy.co.uk/category/blog/A.J. Maguire  http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_seaAnne Stenhouse  http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/ Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com