THE COURAGE TO PURSUE A DREAM

My guest is historical romance author, Victoria Roberts. She's the author of Bad Boys of Scotland series and her current release is To Wed A Wicked Highlander.

Many writers look at those who have made the cut, gotten the agent, or the contract, as lucky. In some ways, yes, they are. They were in the right place at the right time and with the right story. Of course, they worked their butts off to get there and probably have enough prior rejections to paper a room or two in their house, but they had the courage and tenacity to follow their dream of being published and got the brass ring. A writer's life does change when they sell and chances are they have now added writing deadlines, editors, and promotion to their already busy lives of juggling jobs, kids, and life. 

Victoria talks about her life as an author before and after getting the contract. 

Thank you so much for having me today. It’s great to be back.

Being an author isn't easy. Really. Most of us aren't fortunate enough to be J.K. Rowling or Nora Roberts. I have a full-time day job, husband, two kids (8 and 12 years old) who have homework every night and who are both involved in sports. I’m a laundress, taxi service, cook, wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt—yep, I think you get the point. When in the world do I find time to write?

I make time.

It all starts with goals. I used to scoff at the idea of setting them. I didn't have enough time in the day to even figure them out. When I started my writing career, I knew setting a personal target was a must. In fact, it took me a week to figure out not having a goal was definitely not working in my favor. Without goals, I wouldn't have much of a word count. Without a word count, my story took forever to finish. So how do you pick a reasonable goal?

Start small.

Everyone is different and we all have craziness in our lives. Figure out what you can easily handle and then gradually increase your writing goal. For instance, I used to have my goal at 500 words/day or 2,500 words/week (no weekends.) As my kids got older and my day job changed a bit, I was able to increase that goal to 1,000 words/day or 5,000 words/week. If I did not meet my goal by Friday, I worked the weekend until I reached the mark. You want your goal to be challenging but not overwhelming.

I also found that surrounding myself with supportive writer-friends helped me to plug along. How many times have you tried talking shop to a friend who is not a writer? It’s quite difficult. I've lost track of how many times those friends gave me the “deer in the headlights” look. No one understands your struggles and personal triumphs better than a fellow writer because we've all been there. Heck, we still are there! This job is not easy, but writing stories is our passion. It’s something we choose to do. And that’s the basis of what makes a story great.

Writing the book is only the beginning…

At least 25% of time is spent marketing, promoting, blog tours, interviews, guest posts, book signings, etc. Don’t forget, this is all done while you’re still writing the next book! Oh, yes, word counts still apply. I don’t think they ever really go away. 

So why write?

If you have to ask yourself that question, this is not the job for you. Write. Your. Passion. Believe me, I wanted to be traditionally published in the worst way, but even if I wasn't  I would still be writing. At sixteen, I remember pounding out stories on an old typewriter. There was nothing like that feeling of being so engulfed in the story that you could feel it, taste it. This is your baby. You have all the power. Tell your story to the world. And if you keep knocking, one day someone will answer.

I’ll leave you with my favorite quote.

“All dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”—Walt Disney

Thank you so much for having me today. Now back to the darned book. 

• Name your passion whether it’s writing, reading, music, etc. 

Sourcebooks will give away one copy of To Wed a Wicked Highlander to a lucky commenter. (US and Canada only, please)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

BUY: AMAZON, B&N, INDIEBOUND

She always wanted to be one of the boys...

Sybella would do anything to prove she's just as valuable to the MacKenzie clan as her brother is. She'd go on any hunt, take any dare. But her father has a different sort of mission in mind: marriage. It's simple, he explains. All she has to do is marry Alexander MacDonell and report back on his family's secrets. It will be easy, he says, as long as she doesn't do anything foolish...like fall in love.

Until she got a man

As laird of the MacDonells, Alex has a duty to produce an heir. It's a duty he won't mind with the lovely Ella as his wife―even if she is one of the dreaded MacKenzies. He's wooed and won many ladies, but Ella is a challenge like no other. He can tell she's holding something back. But not for long. Because inch by inch, he plans to expose everything she's been hiding and claim the ultimate prize: her heart.

“Roberts has created the baddest boy of the Highlands for her third in her series. This action-packed romance has everything Roberts’ fans adore: a strong heroine who meets her match in a to-die-for hero, deception, betrayal, love and redemption..." 

―RT Book Reviews Reviewer Top Pick

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Victoria Roberts writes Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. She was named by RT Book Reviews as "one of the most promising debut authors across the genres" and was also a 2012 Reviewers Choice nominee for Best First Historical for Temptation in a Kilt. X Marks the Scot and To Wed a Wicked Highlander (Bad Boys of the Highlands #2 and #3) were reviewer TOP PICKS, and the first of Victoria’s new Royal Rebellion series is scheduled for release fall 2014. 

Represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, Victoria is a member of Romance Writers of America®, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, several local chapters, as well as a contributing author to the online magazine Celtic Guide.

Victoria lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband of twenty years and their two beautiful children—not to mention one spoiled dog. When she is not plotting her next Scottish romp, she enjoys reading, nature, and antiques. She also drags her clan to every Scottish festival under the sun. You can find Victoria:  Website, Facebook, Goodreads, Celtic Guide

WHEN CHARACTERS TAKE CHARGE...

My guest is Teresa Burrell. legal suspense author of The Advocate series and her latest release, The Advocate's Ex Parte.  She's talking about her high maintenance character, Sabre Orin Brown and her cohorts and their penchant for wanting to tell their story their way. 

Hi Sia. Thanks so much for having me back here at Over Coffee. 

My pleasure Teresa. 

By the way, I’ll have a medium, decaf, hazelnut mocha with non-fat milk, and extra chocolate. Could you make that extra hot. It cools so quickly. And in a mug, please. I hate drinking coffee from a paper cup. Thanks. 

Decaf, hazelnut...? Right. Decaf?  [Sia smiles graciously and hurries away. What's the point of drinking coffee...sheesh, where is my stash of Ghiradelli...and my chocolate doesn't come in non-fat...what does she think this is? Starbucks? Sheesh.]                                     

Oh wait, that’s not for me.  It’s what Sabre, my character in The Advocate Series, drinks. She’s high maintenance when it comes to ordering drinks or food. Lots of “on the side” stuff.

Ahhh...I see. Tell me about her. 

Sabre knows what she wants. She’s a hard-working, caring juvenile court attorney and advocate for abused children. She takes charge and gets the job done, except when it comes to her love life. Then she’s a mess.

I’m often been asked if the character of Sabre Orin Brown is really me. (Her initials, by the way, are S.O.B.) I can say unequivocally, she is not me. She’s younger, richer, thinner, smarter.... She does, however, have the same job I had in my real life. Of course, I didn't spend my time solving so many murders and getting shot at, as Sabre often does.

I think it is impossible to write without putting some of yourself into your characters, so you will see elements of me in Sabre. I didn't do that intentionally. Sometimes, though, I will put a character trait that is so opposite or so unlike anything I would do, just to give her depth. At least I used to. Now, after five books with Sabre, Bob (Sabre’s best friend and colleague), and JP (her handsome cowboy PI), I don’t have as much leeway. They decide how they’ll act, what they will say, and how they’ll solve their dilemmas. I’m sure you've heard many authors say that before. It certainly is true for me. I’m guided by their personalities and if they do something odd, I think the reader has a right to know why. You would think that would make the writing easier, but in a way it’s harder. Sometimes I have an idea in my mind for certain events to take place and my characters won’t let me. They turn me in a totally different direction.

I spent twelve years practicing law in San Diego Superior Court, Juvenile Division. I loved the work, but it was draining. The background information in my novels and many of the incidents that take place in court in my novels are very true to form. Some of my ideas for my books come from actual cases, but the characters are all fictional. I start with just a single line or event and then create from there.

By the way, Sia, do you have any scones? I love scones with my coffee. So does Sabre.

I no longer practice law. I just write novels now and my life is much simpler, no where near the stress I used to deal with every day. Now, I only stress when I have a deadline for a book release. This last week was pretty crazy getting ready for the launch of The Advocate’s Ex Parte, the fifth book in The Advocate Series. It just came out last Sunday. As you know, it’s a legal suspense mystery series. I write legal suspense because someone once told me if I want to be a writer, I should write what I know. There’s a reason why I don’t write romance!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

BUY: AMAZON and B&N 

THE ADVOCATE'S EXPARTE

Attorney Sabre Brown is summoned into Judge Lawrence Mitchell chambers for an ex parte hearing. When the judge attempts to discuss one of her cases, she refuses to listen without proper counsel present. 
Later that evening, Judge Mitchell is murdered.

Sabre’s shock at his death is only surpassed by an attempt on the life of Dr. Carolina Heller, a psychologist she employs on a regular basis. Sabre now fears for her own life. 

Sabre enlists her private eye JP, and they begin to comb and scrutinize her cases, searching for connections between the two crimes. But Sabre’s life is in danger from someone much closer to her. 

Sabre and JP’s roads diverge. While JP infiltrates a twisted world of greed and corruption, Sabre is caught up in a domestic crisis fueled by obsession. As each is forced to fight their own battles, the question soon becomes, can they find a way to save one another?

Excerpt



                                                                                                                                                                                         

Teresa Burrell is semi-retired and living in California, Burrell continues to educate groups about social issues impacting children and write novels, many of which are inspired by actual legal cases. She is the author of The Advocate Series which now contains five novels, The Advocate, The Advocate’s Betrayal, The Advocate’s Conviction, The Advocate’s Dilemma and The Advocate’s Ex Parte. 

You can find Teresa: Website, Blog, Facebook,  Goodreads, and Twitter.

MONDAY MUSINGS: ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

One thing I've learned over the years is everyone tells a story differently. Writers build their stories differently, too. One size, one way, does not fit all.

Who the hell says it has to?

I've learned a few hard lessons about writing and myself.

1. Screw perfection and the horse it flew in on.

There are no flying horses, you say? That’s my point.

2. Recognizing how I write and how to work with it.

I tend to be spare when I’m starting a story or a scene. It’s a quick sketch to capture what I’m seeing in my head. I don’t have the time to layer every sensory bit I see and feel. That’s allowable. Layering the sensory is for later.

3. Once I’m done with the day’s writing

Go back and look what I've written and take a little time to add some reaction/emotions/description. I do this while it’s fresh in my mind.  I check my scene to see if I've hit my mark because the scene has to have a goal and a reason exist. If I think its backstory or knowledge I (but not necessarily the reader) need, to move the story forward, I leave it there but I make a notation.

4. I've learned good writing is a series of repetitions

I’m going to be repeating #3 again and again and again as I write each scene and chapter. Even when the scene or chapter seems good initially, I’m going to have to beef up reaction/emotions/description. Perhaps add some tantalizing detail, strengthen some foreshadowing for actions to come.  Or conflict, character strengths and weaknesses. Or a bit more research.

5. I can’t edit or shade what I haven’t written.

To be honest, I haven't written much fiction lately. I'm getting back into it. The spirit is willing but the process is...rusty. I'm doing writing 'sprints'. I have to shut off the inner critic and write it. I have to let the joy of the adventure flow from my mind to my fingers and worry about the logistics later. 

6. I’d like to say I've conquered this perfectly but...I refer you back to #1.

• How about you? What have you learned on your journey about your writing?

GOOD GUYS OR BAD BOYS?

My guest is the multifaceted  Leanne Ellis who writes the Plain Fear series—complex paranormal stories set with the Amish community that touch your heart and lift your spirit. Her topic today is good guys and bad guys.

Mention Russell Crowe to a room full of women, and you’re likely to get many different reactions, from a shrug of indifference to heart palpitations. He has played both the hero and villain in movies but he definitely has that bad boy quality. What about Benedict Cumberbatch? He is quite the villain in Into Darkness. But he still makes hearts go pitter pat. The same is true of any main character in your favorite book. Mention a character like Atticus Finch, and you’re likely to get sighs from a female readership, mostly because Gregory Peck portrayed him so well in the movie version of To Kill A Mockingbird, but also because Atticus makes hard choices and is a strong voice of reason during turbulent times. What about Rhett in Gone with the Wind? 

Good guys and bad boys are throughout literature, and I find them both equally compelling and desirable, depending on the tale to be told.

In my Plain Fear series, I was able to utilize both good guys (some being Amish) and bad boys (some also being Amish), and it was a lot of fun allowing these characters to reveal their true identity no matter what kind of clothes they wore or car or buggy they drove. In the first book, Forsaken, Levi Fisher is more like Atticus Finch, and he must make some tough decisions, choosing if he will fight for the woman he loves. Forbidden, the second book in the series, has Roc Girouard, a Cajun ex-cop, who is definitely a bad boy. His match is a not-so-goodie-goodie Amish woman, who brings out the good in him. In the final book of the series, Forgiven, Samuel Fisher, is an Amish man sitting on the fence, trying to right the wrongs he’s committed and trying to figure out where he belongs in this world—inside the picket fence of the Amish world or battling the evils that threaten his family.

• So do you like to read about good guys or bad boys or both?

Sourcebooks is giving away a set of all three books in the Plain Fear series, US/Canada only please.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

BUY: Amazon • Books•A•Million 

• Barnes & Noble 

• IndieBound

FORGIVEN

Leanna Ellis

What Must We Sacrifice to be Forgiven?

Samuel Fisher has committed a sin of biblical proportions—he killed his own brother, Jacob. Haunted by guilt and talked by a vampire out for his soul, Samuel starts down the same dark path of destruction that led to his brother's death.

A captivating coming-of-age story unlike any other, Plain Fear: Forgiven pits redemption against temptation, love against fear, and simple faith against the intricacies of sin and salvation. In the gripping final battle between hunters and vampires, Samuel must choose where his loyalties lie. The lives of those he loves—as well as his own ultimate forgiveness—hangs in the balance.

SNEAK PEEK

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Deep in the heart not only describes where Leanna Ellis lives in Texas but also the way she writes. Her books, whether romance, inspirational, women’s fiction, or paranormal, are infused with heartfelt emotion. Having written twenty published novels, Ellis has won many awards including the National Readers Choice Award and the Maggie Award.

When not chasing vampires through the darkened recesses of her mind or roping and riding along with her characters through sun-drenched plains, she stays busy driving her children to their multitude of activities, figuring out what to make for dinner (or where to order takeout), chasing her menagerie of crazy pets around the house, and researching the next idea. 

You can find Leanna: website, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

IT TAKES A TEAM TO CREATE A BOOK

It's my pleasure to have Gina Lamm visiting with us Over Coffee. We often think that once you're published you don't have writing problems, and the stories just flow without problems. Certainly a published author doesn't get writer's block, especially when they have a deadline, right? 

But... what happens if they do? I'll let Gina tell you a bit about that. 

Hi again Sia! I’m thrilled to be back here at Over Coffee, chatting with you guys again. I had so much fun with THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL’s blog tour that getting to come to your place again was a real treat. Thanks for having me! J

Today I want to talk a little bit about my writing team. No, I don’t currently co-author any projects; all my books are single-author efforts. But even single authors need a huge team to get a book off the ground, and I’m totally no exception!

It has always fascinated me to find out how some of my favorite things came to being. Like my favorite books, or my favorite TV shows. Behind-the-scenes glimpses are really fun to me. So here’s my little behind-the-scenes for GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES.

It all started in 2011, when I met Leah Hultenschmidt, then-editor at Sourcebooks. I pitched the idea for THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL to her, and she loved it, but she told me that Sourcebooks preferred contracting series of books over single titles. Could I come up with a couple more ideas for additional books? Sure I could, right?

Denise Tompkins, one of my BEST FRIENDS EVA and super-duper critique buddy, helped me brainstorm a couple more ideas, and between us, we hammered out the idea for GEEK GIRLS DON’T DATE DUKES. Sourcebooks liked it, and contracted books 1 and 2 of the “Geek Girls” series.

And then it was time to write the darned thing. Ever heard of the sophomore slump? I hit that, and I hit it HARD. Writer’s block was too good for what was happening there. I just couldn't get past the wall in my head, and here’s where my team came in.

My husband, my parents, my sister, Denise, my incredible editor Leah, all of them combined to pull me out of this hole and get me writing. My parents would ask me how the book was coming. My husband would listen to me moan and whine about why WAS THIS SO HARD???? Denise would help me brainstorm, and my sister would read things and shoot them back to me so fast. If not for that team helping me through, I don’t know that the book would ever have been finished!

And once the book was finished, it went to Sourcebooks, and they turned that little lump of coal into gold. First my editor Leah ripped it apart (wonderfully) and helped me put it back together. Then it went through copy edits and proofreaders, I don’t know how many passes. The incredible art department made one of the best covers I've ever seen on a romance novel, one that captures the attitude and characters perfectly on the first go. You may not know this, but authors get very little input on their book covers. There’s usually a little form to be filled out, and once the author has done that, they have to trust in their publisher to get them the right cover. And I have to say, that so far I've been so very impressed with Sourcebooks’ art department. Both “Geek Girls” books have looked incredible, and I couldn't be happier.

Then the book moves forward, to Netgalley, where wonderful bloggers like Sia can review it. These guys are also a hugely important part of the team. Where would a book be with no reviews? Sitting in the bottom of the Amazon rankings, that’s where! Through reviews, good and bad, word of mouth, advertising, bloggers and book reviewers can really shape the way a book sells. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the opportunity to post here and on other blog sites. I’m honored to have you guys as part of my team!

And then, once the advanced copies have been reviewed, and release day has come and gone, I get to the biggest (and most important) part of my book team.

You guys. The readers.

Without you, Leah and Avery can only live inside MY head. But with you? These two characters have traveled the world, having their adventure again and again, causing laughs and tears in so many different time zones, zip codes, and countries. And that, my friends, is a humbling thought. This book that took me so many months to create has flown worldwide, and I couldn't be happier, or more grateful.

Thank you for being part of my team. Thanks for reading these crazy tales that come pouring out of my noggin. Thanks for laughing, for sharing, for buying and borrowing and telling your friends.

I couldn't  do this without you.

                                                                                                                                                            

BUY: AMAZON, B&N, INDIEBOUND

GEEK GIRLS DON'T DATE DUKES

The Royal Treatment

All Leah wanted was a little gallantry. But in this day and age, chivalry was most definitely dead. If only there were a way to travel back in time and snag her very own duke...

Avery Russell was polishing some boots when a woman fell through the bedchamber mirror into his arms. All he could make out from her breathless babbling was some nonsense about "my one true love, Your Grace." Clearly the chit was mad if she couldn't tell a valet from a duke!

As much as Avery wanted to give in and give her a good tumble, he knew it wouldn't be proper. No, he'd take as long as necessary to convince Leah that sometimes a duke just won't do. EXCERPT

                                                                                                                                                                              

Becoming a magician proved to be less interesting than Gina Lamm had anticipated when she was six, so in her adult life, she's turned to writing.

This belly-dancing, wisecracking, marshmallow-addicted mother of three energetic fur-children loves nothing more than penning funny, emotional tales of love, lust, and entertaining mishaps.

A multi-published author, Gina also writes erotic romance under the pen name Regina Cole. THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL, GEEK GIRLS DON'T DATE DUKES, INDELIBLY INTIMATE, CAUGHT IN CRIMSON, and DEAR ADDI are only a few of her stories.

Married to a real live superhero, she and her family live in North Carolina, surrounded by tobacco farms, possums, and the occasional hurricane. You can find Gina:  Website, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter. 

FIUANA LUND—MY WORSE ENEMY

You have to take control of both writer and critic and learn where and when to let each voice emerge.

She’s rude. She has no regard for my feelings—or anybody else’s for that matter. When I see her looking my way, I cringe. I mean, my stomach really curdles. I would

run in the opposite direction if I could.  But there are times when she has me trapped, backed into a corner. Those are the worst times. She’s mean, she’s ugly, she’s got a HUGE rear end—and she hates me. The worst thing about her is that I find myself facing her in the mirror every morning.

I am my own worst enemy, my toughest critic, and the least supportive person in my life where my writing is concerned.

The same can be said for most writers I know. That’s not to say that a part of me isn't still delusional, witlessly hoping to win a Pulitzer prize or earn the title of New York Times Bestseller at some point. But the truth is, when asked about my books or my writing, I struggle to find anything positive to say. In fact, I recently did a radio interview to promote my book. The kind host asked me to talk about Indigo, to get into the book and talk about the story. I opened my mouth and began to blather on and on about a mythology class I took in college. Why did I do that? Why did I practically change the subject instead of sing the praises for a story I poured my heart and soul into, a book I really do like?

I love writing. There are times when imagination matches energy and words spring forth with carefully controlled urgency and I find myself glued to my keyboard, unable and unwilling to pull myself from my constructed world. That’s where the magic is; those moments of writing flow are what we ink slingers live for. But the rest of it? The rest of it is pretty close to agony. In order to sell your work you must be able to sell yourself. How can you sell yourself while there is a battle brewing inside your mind between the writer and the critic? In a word: balance.

Mind over matter, is what my husband says. You have to take control of both writer and critic and learn where and when to let each voice emerge. To be a successful writer, you must cultivate both voices, temper them, and learn where and when each is appropriate. For example, during the creative phase of writing—you know, that point when you've outlined and storyboarded and it’s time to add meat to the bones of your story—that’s when the writer voice needs to emerge loud and strong. That other voice, the one nobody likes to listen to, the critic—well, she needs to shut up. No, like really. Cover her mouth with duct tape and hide her fat butt in a closet. That writer in you needs to be set free without worry or concern.

On the other hand, when it’s time to edit—and I don’t care who you are, you need to edit—tell the writer in you to go take a nap and let the critic out of the closet. Despite all the ugly things I've said about the critic, she’s not all bad.  In fact, in the right setting, she can become one of your greatest allies, allowing you to polish your skills, accept constructive comments, and manage your expectations.

But that’s pretty much where her reign ends. Sooner or later you’re going to have to find the energy and passion to sell your story. That’s when the critic needs to be put away—far, far away. Book her a ticket on a one-way cruise to somewhere icy and cold and perfect for witches like her. Am I right?

The bottom line is this: Believe in yourself. Believe in your talent. Trust your gut, paying attention to both the writer and critic in you. And when you find yourself loathing the critic staring you in the mirror every morning, take a break, take a breath, and then write her out of your next chapter.

• How do you overcome the blues when you become your own worst critic?

                                                                                                                                                                                      

BUY: AMAZON, B&N, INDIEBOUND

INDIGO

Fiauna Lund

Seventeen-year-old Brit Kavanagh is hiding something: Just before her mother disappeared, she gave Brit faery wings … sewn into her skin.

When her father’s death forces Brit to leave the only home she’s ever known, danger follows her like a shadow. Catastrophe strikes again and again, and at every turn, she is confronted by the terrifying apparition of an otherworldly banshee.

Desperate to unravel the mysteries behind her wings and the curse of the banshee, Brit turns to Gentry O’Neill, a handsome stranger who knows more than he’s telling. With Gentry’s help, Brit pieces together her mother’s troubled past and discovers the horrifying truth of her own existence.

Her mother gave her wings, but she never meant for Brit to fly.

EXCERPT
                                                                                                                                                                                        

Fiauna Lund is a grown woman with an overactive imagination, a passion for writing, four children, and the dirty house to prove it.

Reading and writing have always been passions for Fiauna. During her childhood she spent hours exploring the woods of rural western Pennsylvania where she first began creating stories about faeries, pixies, magic, and mystical creatures.

She met her husband, Aaron, while attending Utah State University, and later earned a degree in human services from Columbia College which allowed her to study the uniquely challenged and inspiring people who serve as her collective muse. She now resides in Farmington, Utah. When she's not reading, writing, or running, she spends her time caring for her four adorable children and two curious cats. 

You can find Fiauna:  Facebook, Goodreads, Website/Blog

WRITING THE DREADED...GROAN...SYNOPSIS

My husband has been querying agents for his detective series. He is now the proud owner of enough rejections to make a full sized shower curtain. Both sides. Despite all that, he has also gotten a lot of positives and some real constructive revisions, suggestions, and encouragement that he has a good idea and to continue on.

Yesterday, he told me that he has a request from an agent for a couple of chapters and…drumroll…the dreaded synopsis.

“Is this like an outline of the story?”

“Um…no. The synopsis isn’t as stark as an outline. It should give the flavor of your story enhanced by your voice to hook them.”

“Huh?”

“Think of it like telling a friend what the story is about and you’re hitting the high points or the arc of the story (plot) and filling them on the main characters and how they fit into the plot of the story. You touch on the goal, motivations, and conflicts of the main character(s). You also want to give the black moment—when all seems lost and then the how the hero wins the day.”

“Goals, motivations, and conflicts? That sounds too complicated. I don’t think you really need that.”

“Sure do. Every good story has that. Let me put it another way. Goal - what your Hero wants (both internally which gives the character arc; and externally—plot). Motivation—Why they want it (both internal and external). Conflict —why they CAN'T HAVE IT (both internal and external)”

“In two pages? Isn't there just a formula or something?”

Are we having fun yet?  

Once I stopped laughing over that last plaintive question and wiped my eyes, we sat down and discussed whys and hows. Yeah, I tried to give him a formula.

• What is the hook?  Another way to look at it is what’s the story in a sentence? A friend of mine, Nancy Parra, demonstrated this well with her book, Mr. Charming: 

A single mom with a secret past finds herself embroiled in a playboy’s murder. 

It shows the story and hints at the external and internal conflict and it gets your attention. This is a very short first paragraph.

• What is your hero/protagonist’s Internal Goal Motivation Conflict and External GMC? What does he want, why does he want it, and why he can’t have it? Internal shows the character arc, external defines the plot. Keep it brief. For romance, of course, we give both hero and heroine's and for other genres it would be protagonist A and B, or main characters. And you'd set this as two paragraphs. If you include the GMC for the villain then there would be a third paragraph. 

• What is the Plot? What happens in the story? Get the plot down in a clear concise manner. You want to include enough important plot points to convey the story. Once the plot path is clear in your mind then weave in why the unfolding events in the story are important. You can mention the secondary plot—as it impacts the primary—but the story is your main plot. That's what you need to focus on. This will be your biggest section of your synopsis.

• What is the Black Moment? This is the moment when, despite the best effort (or maybe because of his efforts) of the protagonist/hero, all seems lost.

• What is the Resolution? The protagonist/hero usually has to pull something from him/herself (character arc) to accomplish the resolution and win against the odds. Goals motivation and conflict are usually tied into the resolution. He's changed from what he/she was when the story began. The events of the story have taught him/her something.

You want to write the synopsis in PRESENT tense and be sure to give the ending. Be a professional. Make every word count. Putting your voice into the synopsis, you're giving them a taste of the story while they're reading for content. Your voice can also act as a hook.

Hubs will be working on this today. Hopefully, it will go smoothly. Once he writes it we have two guinea pigs to read it and give their feedback. We figure if it makes sense to someone unfamiliar with the story and they "get it" then we can declare it a success.

• How do you handle writing synopsis? Any suggestions?