Learn to Write a Story a Week

I don't remember how I found this article, but I thought it sounded like a great idea! Write a story a week to improve your craft. The website The Write Practice gives you a daily plan on how to accomplish this feat.

In a nutshell:
Monday - Settle on your story idea.
Tuesday - Write your opening act.
Wednesday - Write the climax.
Thursday - Resolve the plot.
Friday - Revise your story.

There are much more detailed instructions at their site, so go check it out and let me know how you did. If I attempt this massive undertaking I will post my stories here and on Wattpad.

Nocturne by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

First let me start off by saying I love sexy steamy romance novels, the steamier the better. This book was not one of them. Nocturne is a gentle love story about two lonely people who find each other through their passion for music.

Young governess Ella Montgomery is still grieving the death of her beloved father when she is hired at Blackheath Manor. The earl and his countess are not very welcoming, but their five year old twin daughters are adorable, making the job bearable. Ella is utterly alone since she is unable to befriend any servants--and the housekeeper seems to despise her.

When Ella discovers a mystery man playing piano late one night she befriends him. He turns out to be the earl's brother Thomas who has been kept hidden away due to his crippling wounds from the war. Their love of music bring them together, while finding a friend each so desperately needs. Their falling in love was believable and not rushed at all, despite this being a novella.

This was a sweet story with a happy ending full of hope and new beginnings.

Blog Background Flash Fiction, Story 1

As a writing challenge I have decided to come up with flash fiction stories about my blog background image. It's an image I found online. I completely fell in love with it and bought the rights to use it commercially. It will most likely end up on the cover of my first historical romance.

Here we go! Flash fiction, story #1...

Sailing Away

The full moon hung low in the sky, illuminating the rippling waves in the wake of the ship. Unable to sleep, Darcy leaned his chin in his hands and stared out at the water. Had it really been less than a day since his elder brother had sold him into service aboard this vessel? How would he survive among such a tough crew? The most physical pursuit he had ever engaged in was climbing apple trees on his family's estate. He sighed. That was another lifetime, another boy. Now he would have to become someone new, someone harder. Glancing up at the masts, he pondered. "They are not so different from apple trees." For the first time since stepping aboard, Darcy smiled.

Taken by the Duke by Jess Michaels

Romeo and Juliet meets Beauty and the Beast.

In Taken by the Duke we first learn there is an age old feud between two families.The story starts off with a heartbreaking fatal accident. (I was crying over the prologue!)

To avenge his sister's death, Christian Rothcastle kidnaps Lady Ava Windbury, the sister of his enemy. A simple abduction turns into a sinful bargain. Ava agrees to stay with Christian for three weeks as his mistress if he promises not to hurt her brother. The only problem is once they start neither wants it to end.

This is a highly erotic historical romance. There are a lot of graphic sex scenes, but they are exquisitely written and emotionally charged.

I enjoyed watching Christan and Ava fall in love. I only wish there had been an epilogue.

Listen to the Moon by Rose Lerner

It's rare for me to find historical romance novels that are not about people in the gentry or royalty or marrying into the gentry or royalty. This book is about the servants who support them and I loved it!

Listen to the Moon is about Suki Grimes, a young maid-of-all-work who is content with her lot in life. She has no dreams or aspirations other than to avoid marriage. Her father had abandoned her and her mother when she was a child, even though her mother was in love with the man. Apparently love doesn't mean anything.

John Toogood (no puns please) was the valet to the main character in Rose Lerner's previous book, Sweet Disorder. When John finds himself out of a job, through no fault of his own, he is led to a new position: butler to the local vicar. The only catch is the job will only go to a married man. The job seems a good fit for John, but when he is offered a high paying position with his previous employers, he has to decide if he wants the fancy home with more money or the simple quiet life.

John and Suki are attracted to each other, but it's not love when they get married. It's financial need and lust. Love builds over time and is very believable. This story was a breath of fresh air. The characters in this book are poor, but happy. They appreciate the little things in life. We also get to learn about the different classes in the servant world.

Listen to the Moon was sweet, charming and fascinating. The love scenes were sexy and there were plenty of them.

I Joined RWA

After chatting with a several authors over the past few months I was told repeatedly to join RWA (Romance Writers of America). These published authors told me how much that group has helped them, from meeting other writers in the forums to joining local chapters to the online classes.

Well, a few weeks ago I decided to do it. After all, the annual fee is a business expense. I also joined the local chapter which happens to be very close to me. Yay!

Already I have made a few connections, taken a workshop and joined an online class! Sure there are lots of free resources online, but it's nice to have access to all of it in one place, meet other serious writers and learn from them. It's also nice to have them think of me as a colleague, rather than some random person on the internet.

I will let you know about my experiences as they happen.

An Indecent Invitation and A Brazen Bargain by Laura Trentham

An Indecent Invitation was my first book by author Laura Trentham.  It is the story of Lily Drummond, a young woman who is searching for her missing father. Her brother's best friend Gray Masterson has known Lily her entire life, but had been away for several years spying for The Crown with Lily's brother. When he returns to England he is stunned by the charming beauty Lily has become, but fights the attraction because he feels unworthy. He is untitled and Lily is the daughter of an Earl. Of course, Lily feels the opposite. Gray is her ideal man. She's been in love with him since they were children. When she asks Gray to let her help in the search for her missing father, he knows she will do it on her own, so he reluctantly agrees. 

I was worried I wouldn't enjoy this book because the series is called Spies and Lovers. I'm not much into spy stories. Fortunately the spying was not excessive and I found myself on the edge of my seat, worrying about Lily's undercover adventures and wondering who the villain was. There were some very satisfying love scenes, too. 

The theme of the brother's sister and best friend falling in love is my favorite!

Because I enjoyed the first book so much I had to read the sequel. The tables are turned in this story! A Brazen Bargain is about Lily's brother Rafe Drummond and her best friend Minerva Bellingham.

Rafe is recovering from a traumatic event that happened on his last spy mission. It has left him feeling unworthy of love. Minerva is an independent woman, planning never to marry. She has been running her younger brother's ducal estate until he comes of age. Unfortunately that has led to his spoiled nature. She does the work and he just goofs off.

After a drunken night of gambling leaves her brother in debt to Rafe, she goes to her friend's brother in the hopes of having the debt waved. No such luck. Rafe blames Minerva for his sister's inappropriate behavior in the first book. Secretly he longs for her. He tells Minerva he will forgive the debt if she and her brother come work for him for three months. He thinks she needs to be taken down a peg or two, not really knowing her character at all. Her brother is in need of some tough love and an education in estate management. It's a good education for all.

This exciting romantic story had some very HOT sex scenes that left me fanning myself.

I know there are at least two more books in the works and I eagerly await them!