Guest: Andrea Downing

Today on my blog is Andrea Downing.

Tell us a little about yourself.        

Thanks so much for having me here today, Marie.  I'm really excited at the moment because my fourth book, Dances of the Heart, just came out Feb. 4^th and it's taken a really long time to get this one out!  It's my first contemporary novel so quite a departure for me, and for someone who has spent most of her life living in England, it was difficult getting the Texas characters right.  At the moment I'm sitting looking out my New York window at a snowstorm, and trying not to be too nervous about how well I did.

What do like the most and the least about writing?          

I love immersing myself in a world I've created and seeing where my characters go.  I hear the dialog in my head clearly and love getting those scenes down on the page.  In fact, I love the entire creative process behind telling a story.  What I hate most is then being expected to sell it!  The entire promotional side of writing, I think, sucks the lifeblood out of it.  Writers are creative people, not salesmen, but then what's the point of writing a book if no one is going to read it?

Give us a peek into your latest published work?  

 Successful, workaholic author Carrie Bennett lives through her writing, but can’t succeed at writing a man into her life. Furthermore, her equally successful but cynical daughter, Paige, proves inconsolable after the death of her fiancé.

Hard-drinking rancher Ray Ryder can find humor in just about anything—except the loss of his oldest son. His younger son, Jake, recently returned from Iraq, now keeps a secret that could shatter his deceased brother’s good name.

           On one sultry night in Texas, relationships blossom when the four meet, starting a series of events that move from the dancehalls of Hill Country to the beach parties of East Hampton, and from the penthouses of New York to the backstreets of a Mexican border town. But the hurts of the past are hard to leave behind, especially when old adversaries threaten the fragile ties that bind family to family…and lover to lover.  


What’s next on the writing horizon for you?    

I've been trying to get back to a book that takes place in two different time periods, and which is more literary than previous books I've written.  Unfortunately, I have a couple of health issues at the moment and that is a real time-suck, but I'm feeling positive and hope to get back to my book soon.

Excerpt: 

Ray pointed to his pickup, smirking slightly with the knowledge of what her reaction would probably be.

“You must be joking.”


He could hardly hear the mumbled comment, but it was exactly what he’d been expecting.


She glowered, a brow definitively arched in query.  “What year is this thing?”


He attempted to wipe the amusement away from his face with a hand that rubbed his stubble in a satisfying scrape. “Sorry, I left the Cadillac at home this time.” A raised brow questioned if she took him seriously. “It’s an ’89, and still runs as smooth as the day I got it.”

“Which was, what? Last year?”

Ray shook his head and proceeded to the passenger door. “You have the key, sweetheart,” he said, patiently standing and waiting.

“Listen!” Carrie put her hands out as if to stop any further conversation. “First off, I am not your sweetheart. And second, if by any chance you think you just may have gotten lucky tonight--”

“Whoa, whoa now.” Ray was truly mystified at the turn events were taking. “Not that I wouldn’t be honored and damn well pleased, but I sure as heck wasn’t thinkin’ along those lines...and truth be told, you know, I’m hardly up to it.” He considered this for a second, a fog clearing for a moment’s view of the road. “And I don’t mean I need Viagra either.” He noted her staring at the key as if it might turn into something else. “No, it doesn’t open automatically,” he informed her at last.

She shoved the key into the handle and got the door open, climbed up into the cab and reached across to unlock the door for him. Her gaze ran over the dashboard, uncertainty scrunching her face like a bitter fruit.

Ray folded himself into the passenger seat and slouched back, tipping his hat over his eyes. “Just let me know when you give up. I’ll be right here, darl...” Yeah, better not. He could almost feel her indignation, listening as she squirmed around and adjusted the seat.

“It’ll be a cold day in hell, mister, before I give up!” The key turned and the truck sputtered to life, then died again.

“You ever drive manual before?” he mumbled from under his Stetson, and sensed Carrie eyeing him. “That’s what I thought,” he answered to her lack of response. “Put your foot on the clutch, move her into first, release the brake, and get goin’, slowly releasing the clutch.”

“Who the hell drives stick shift anymore?” she muttered as she followed his terse instructions. The truck lurched forward as she spun it off the grass toward the road.

“Right,” Ray directed, feeling suddenly nauseous with the pitch of the car. Bile rising, he opened the door and spat before yanking it shut again. “Can you get the damn thing into second? Foot on the clutch, move the shift and let’s go if we’re going.”

“Fine! You don’t have to yell at me.”

Ray sat up, shoved his hat back from his eyes and glared at her, reining in his frustration and anger. “I was not yelling at you, but you know dang well we’d be far safer with me drivin’. As it is, I’m gonna need a new transmission.”

The truck staggered again. “I know no such thing.” She bent forward to swipe at the windscreen to clear it. “We haven’t got seatbelts on,” she murmured.

“We’re not going fast enough to need them.”

Carrie ignored his last remark and appeared to concentrate on keeping the truck moving. It sputtered again, and Ray let out a sigh of resignation just as flashing blue lights appeared in the side mirror. She pulled over, and the motor unceremoniously died.

“Damn!” she cursed, reaching down for her bag at Ray’s feet. “Let me get my license.”

Is there anything you want to tell readers?     

Well, if there's one thing I'd like to tell readers it's about the importance of reviews for our books.  Good or bad, it's always nice to know what a reader's reaction is, how we're doing.  Often a line or two is all it takes and it makes a world of difference to us.

Bio:  

Andrea Downing likes to say that when she decided to do a Masters Degree, she made the mistake of turning left out of New York, where she was born, instead of right to the west, and ended up in the UK.   She eventually married there, raising a beautiful daughter and staying for longer than she cares to admit.  Teaching, editing a poetry magazine, writing travel articles, and a short stint in Nigeria filled those years until in 2008 she returned to NYC.  She now divides her time between the city and the shore, and often trades the canyons of New York for the wide open spaces of Wyoming.  Family vacations are often out west and, to date, she and her daughter have been to some 20 ranches throughout the west.  Loveland, her first book, was a finalist for Best American Historical at the 2013 RONE Awards.  Lawless Love, a short story, part of The Wild Rose Press ‘Lawmen and Outlaws’ series, was a finalist for Best Historical Novella at the RONE Awards and placed in the 2014 International Digital Awards Historical Short contest.   Dearest Darling, a novella, is part of The Wild Rose Press Love Letters series, and came out Oct. 8^th, 2014, and Dances of the Heart, her first contemporary novel, comes out in February, 2015.

Links to Social Media:  

WEBSITE AND BLOG:  http://andreadowning.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/writerAndreaDowning

Twitter:  @andidowning  https://twitter.com/AndiDowning

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446229.Andrea_Downing

Linkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=124888740&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:  http://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Downing/e/B008MQ0NXS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Buy Links:  

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dances-Heart-Andrea-Downing-ebook/dp/B00S46BGY6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421510959&sr=8-2&keywords=Dances+of+the+Heart

The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepub: http://www.amazon.com/Dances-Heart-Andrea-Downing-ebook/dp/B00S46BGY6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421510959&sr=8-2&keywords=Dances+of+the+Heartlishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6060

Thanks for being my guest today Andrea

Track Expenses

It amazes me how many people have no clue about tracking their expenses. 

I'm asked all the time if I keep receipts, how do I do my taxes, etc.

From my experience with the IRS (US), the more you keep track the better off you are especially if you're doing a tax filing showing yourself as a writer. 

I track all my writing expenses: conferences, hotels, meals, etc., that includes car mileage.

There are various ways to track, and you can find various ways on the Internet or by asking people what they use.  

But it is important to track your expenses before and after you've published.  

I started claiming my writing expenses many, many years before I was published.  Now, I will say, there were many things I could have tried to write off my taxes but chose not to.  This was my choice.  I wrote off dues to organizations, conferences, hotel expenses while at conference, meals, etc.  

Now, you don't have to claim your writing expenses before your published with the IRS.  But it is important to tack them, because it will give you an idea of how much money you are spending.  And when you do become published, you'll already have a good tracking system in place.

  

There are expenses I never thought about and year after year I keep track and see what I'm spending my writing income on.  

I track both incoming and outgoing income, I do this by spreadsheets.  It's not hard and as long as you keep it up, so it's not time consuming.

You are going to have expenses as a writer so it's important to track them.

Next week: Know what your publisher does for you

When the Words Won't Flow

It's been that kind of week for me.  I sent my editor off the short story and now the words just won't flow.

I've gone back to the story I'd started before this, I had to do a bit of reading to get back into it, but the words dried up.

It's taken me days to get back into the story and I really hate that, because I have other character's wanting their stories told, but this one needs to get done first.

Always when I'm fighting a story, more ideas pop into my head and characters just want to have their time on the page.

If you're a writer how do you handle this?

If not, when you have to do something and you don't feel like it what do you do?

Have a great week.

Marie

Back to the Writers Journey

I know the last few blog post haven't been up to my normal standard, today I'm getting back into talking about the writers journey.

Since I was first offered a contract in August 2009, things seems to have moved at lightening speed.  My first book was released in Jan 2010, then the next two books in Feb. 2011 and June 2011, now my latest release was out in March 2012.

Since the first book release I've learned a lot.  Dealing with social networking (facebook and twitter), promotion material, doing promotional mailings, setting up a mailing list, a newsletter list, making sure my website is updated, blogging not only my blog but a group blog as well, and probably several other things I'm not thinking of right now.  Oh, and writing the new books.

It's been quite a balancing act, because I work a full time job outside of writing my books, my writing happens at night and on weekends.  Of course, there's family to deal with, the housework, laundry, grocery shopping, extended family, and more and more. 

I'm usually pretty organized but in the last few months I haven't been as organized as I usually am.  I had to sit down and figure out what.  Mainly because this year has been a different year for me, let me explain.  I made the decision in January that I would leave the day job at the end of April.

This is a life changing event, while I will still have an income, it will not be what it was, but this means I will be able to write full time which is something I've always wanted to do.  Along with leaving the day job, it also means changing where I live.

So I will also be moving to a new home this year and because of my mom's health, she will be living with me.  This takes me in a totally new direction because I will be cleaning out her home so she can sell it and moving her in with me.

This will take place over several months.  The fun thing is in my new home I will have a home office.  It won't be the guest bedroom anymore but an actual office.  I can't wait.  I'm working on training myself now that when I sit down at the computer that means work, not play. 

I'd like to know any organization tips or moving tips that you may have?  I'm going to need all the help I can get.

Time is Flying

Time is flying.  I have have no idea of where the first four months of the year went.

I have been busy, His for the Weekend was released, I've been working on another story for The Wild Rose Press, and I've written two short stories for a soon to be released anthology (More later).

Along with writing, I've been winding down the day job.  I'm lucky enough to be able to retire at the end of April, so I can write full time.  With retiring from the day job also comes some life changes.  I will be moving to a new state, cleaning out one house to move to a new home. 

The move will be nice as I will have a ranch style house rather than one with stairs.  I will be closer to family and I will have an actual office, not an office/spare bedroom.

I'm a little nervous about it all, but the changes are good.

Have a great week.

Off Topic

Well the AFC and NFC championship football games are now over, the Superbowl is in two weeks.  The teams I wanted to win didn't but they both play very good games and have nothing to be ashamed about.

While I'm disappointed, I realized that if these players give up they'll never get anywhere.  The same goes for writers.  We can't give up on our first rejection or bad contest scores.

Perseverance is what is going to keep us in the game.

While we may not succeed today, we have to continue to write, the more we write the better we get.  In sports, they practice, have workouts, and watch films.  In writing, we write, read craft books, do on-line workshops, read other writers and write more.

Don't every give up, you will get there no matter how long it takes you.

Running Behind

There are weeks I feel I'm running behind and this last week was one of them.

It seemed no matter what I did, I didn't seem to catch up. But that is a writers life. Right now I'm juggling several different projects.

I'm working on edits for His For The Weekend, which is under contract to The Wild Rose Press. Then I'm getting ready to pitch a book to another editor this upcoming weekend, I have another book out to another editor and my WIP is my head wanting to be written now.

Oh and did I mention I'm also taking two on-line classes.

It's now always easy to plan the writing out, I don't always know when edits will show up or when an editor will get back to me on a submission. Plus with the day job, I don't always have the time to deal with the day to day stuff of being a writer.

It's hard to fit everything in, with family, day job and writing, there are days I feel like I'm being pulled in twelve different directions.

Things will get better, I'm taking things one step at at time so I don't feel so overwhelmed.

Have a great week.

Guest Blogger: Liz Arnold

Today is my guest Liz Arnold.

Marie: Tell us a little about yourself.

Liz: Thanks for having me “over” today, Marie. Love your blog!

I am a wife, mom, editor, writer, and teacher. I live in the mid-east with my husband and the assorted cats and dogs my daughters have left behind while they are in college ordering pizza at 11:00 at night. I love books, journaling, and yoga. I started writing in grade school, wrote for the school newspaper, and got a degree in journalism which I use to write freelance and edit.

Marie: What do you like the most and the least about writing?

Liz: I love that I can work in my pajamas. When I go shopping for clothes, I usually end with a new pair of pajamas and matching house slippers. Everybody knows that pajamas are always at the top of my gift list. They can’t go wrong getting me a new pair of pajamas! I dislike that there is so little money to be made in the industry. But I’m compelled to write and I get better and better at it and even if I connect with only a handful of people with my writing, that’s enough. But next life time I want to be mega-million, New York Times bestselling author!

Marie: Give us a peek into your latest published work?

MESSAGE TO LOVE

LIZ ARNOLD

THE WILD ROSE PRESS

www.thewildrosepress.com

Blurb

Audra Wakely’s father has been seized by Spanish authorities and imprisoned for sympathizing with Cuban rebels. Raising the money to bribe officials if necessary, she sets off for Cuba to rescue her father. She doesn’t bargain on the interference of any U.S. officials—that is until she meets Rollins McBride.

Lt. Rollins McBride of the newly designated U.S. Naval Intelligence service is assigned to track Audra on her journey. He’s to arrest Greg Wakely, a U.S. citizen, for treason and gun smuggling. His mission and his heart are taken by surprise by the feisty beauty who sets a stubborn path toward finding her father and proving he isn’t a traitor—no matter what or who gets in her way.

Sizzle, spice, and intrigue heats up the Spanish American War in MESSAGE TO LOVE.

Excerpt

“It was a dream, just a very bad dream.”

She stepped back out of his hold. Clammy spots of moist heat lingered on her arms where his hands had been.

“I’m all right now.” Audra reached for the door and noticed the sickly sweet odor of liquor on his breath. “You can leave now. I want to go back to bed.” She pulled open the door and gestured into the hall.

“Sorry, but this time you’re going, too.” Rollins strode over to the dresser and pulled out a drawer. “Better pack. We have just under two hours.”

“I’m not in the mood for comedy, Rollins,” she sighed. “I’m really very, very tired. I’ve got to get some rest. Now—”

“Let me make myself clear.” He sounded gruff. “I said we’re leaving, and unless you want to get on a ship bound for Santiago with your shirttails hanging out, better change and get ready.” He made to leave the room. “I hope you have a shawl or something. It’s gotten cooler out, and we have half an hour in a wagon to get to port.” Then he vanished into his own room next door, leaving Audra gape-mouthed in the hallway.

“Who does he think he is?” She growled as she stamped her foot against the cold hard floor. “Infuriating! He is absolutely infuriating!” Audra heaved the door shut with gusto. “These are not my shirttails, either!”

Amazon buy link (print and digital) click here

The Wild Rose Press buy link (print and digital) click here

Marie: What’s next on the writing horizon for you?

Liz: I’m working on another historical romance set in pioneer Ohio after the Revolutionary war. A female doctor arrives in Marietta, Ohio in the spring of 1790 to a smallpox epidemic and Indian raids. The bravery and fortitude of the people who settled our country fascinates me. Falling in love amidst the challenges of pioneer American is amazing in my opinion.

Is there anything you want to tell readers?

Liz: I would love to send everyone a free bookmark! Send a SASE to P.O. Box 1322, Parkersburg, WV 26102