Make-Believe Mondays With Marie - Nicole Ryan

Today on Make-Believe Mondays our guest is Marie Nicole Ryan.

Marie,- Nicole, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you're working on now.

Marie- Nicole: Funny you should ask. I'm working on a MS that my editor just rejected! Seems I'm guilty of using a similar plot device from a previous book AND I have a secondary plot that's just competing for prominence with my main suspense plot. So it's back to revising and reworking the MS. I'm also working on the sequel to the rejected MS, so I have to get the first one right.

Both are romantic suspense stories set in Nashville at a PI agency, Music City Investigations, run by a blended family of siblings. Each of the family members will have his/her own book, but none of them will see the light of day if number one doesn't suit my editor.

Debra: Oh that sounds interesting. Nashville is just down the road from me.

Ray Bradbury said, "We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Marie - Nicole: One thing I always do when I write is have music in the background. Most of the time, I listen to light classical and New Age music because it's so calming and inspiring. Other times I just have to take a break and read, read, read. Taking time for me is another way I keep my creative cup filled, for example, lunch with a friend. I don't have a lot of responsibilites except to myself so this is easier than for most writers. My son is an adult and out on his own, and I gave up my day job last year. Watching the news is always a source of story ideas whether good or bad.

Debra: Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Marie- Nicole: Yes, and it's difficult to define how it happens or how I know, but when it happens I know. Sometimes in the editing process, I change wording in a character's dialogue, and all of a sudden it hits me that "Nick" would say it this way not that way. Another way I know is when my body language starts mimicking the character's movements. I'll be writing dialogue and my shoulders will twitch or shrug and I know the character is speaking through me.

Debra: Oh, that is fascinating. Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

Marie-Nicole: You can check my web site or blog and I'll include the links below. My current release is Too Good to be True and it's available at Samhain Publishing.
My next release is Love on the Run, and it’s due out November 2^nd, also from Samhain.

http://marienicoleryan.com

http://marienicoleryan.blogspot.com

http://romanticsuspense.blogspot.com

Marie- Nicole, Thank you for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

Make-Believe Mondays With Barbara Baldwin

Today on Make- Believe Mondays our guest is Barbara Baldwin.

Barb, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Barb: I just had an historical – Silver River Love – released by Whiskey Creek Press on October 1, and I’ll have another historical – Song of my Heart – out in December by Samhain. So, I am currently taking a short break to do some marketing and regroup. Right! Don’t
ever believe an author that tells you that! In the midst of all that, I am working on a short story for Valentines about a retirement home full of vivacious old biddies who think they are matchmakers!

Debra: Now that sounds like a lively retirement home.

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Barb: Everything around me can spark an idea – a song on the radio, a conversation, or a road sign. The best way to keep creativity flowing, though, is to surround yourself with good writing friends. I have two different groups, one is a critique group and the other is a hometown group with interest in writing. Every time we meet, I always go home fired up to write!

Debra: Yes, songs do that for me too. And sometimes it's one line of an overheard conversation.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Barb: Many times I’ve re-read a section and honestly don’t remember writing it. The dialogue is strictly character driven! That’s why I ended up with a 4-book trilogy (that’s not a misprint.) I started writing books about the McVicker brothers, and by the third, which was suppose to be the last, I had so fallen in love with them I couldn’t let them go. Their mom lives in Boston, and of course they visit periodically. I swear I could get off the green line and walk right to her house! They become so much a part of my life.

Debra: Yes. They become the people in our books, not just characters. And isn't it great to be so in the flow you look back and think, did I write that? :-)

For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Barb: I have great dreams! When I’m just on the verge of waking, I think, “this would make a great novel”, but then I can’t remember it!! But that’s not to say there aren’t pieces of my life in all my books, especially my travels. I don’t travel to research setting, but often once I’ve been somewhere, it ends up being the setting because I like it so well.

Debra: Oh, that is when a dream journal might come in handy. This happens to me too, but sometimes I can catch them.

As a child did any particular book or author pull you into their imaginary world?

Barb: All the Black Stallion books! And Perry Mason!

Debra: Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Barb: Every writer creates from the heart, and I can’t imagine not writing. Yet all my stories are different – historical, time travel, contemporary. And the level of sensuality is also different. It’s not so much ME writing “sex” but it’s what happens in the characters’ relationship that determines how much love making there is. As long as there are readers that love a good happily-ever-after, I will keep writing romance.

I just started a group, in case any of your readers would like to join. It’s sometimes hard to keep up with all the technology, so at least you won’t be inundated with useless stuff. It’s just a place to muse, and talk writing. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MoodSwingsWithBarbaraBaldwin
I also have a website which shows the variety of books and genres I share with readers:
http://www.authorsden.com/barbarajbaldwin
I hope you’ll all visit soon!
Barb

Debra: Barb, Thank you for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

Make-Believe Mondays With Angela Steed

Today on Make-Believe Mondays, I'm pleased to introduce my friend, Angela Steed.

Angela, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you're working on now.

Angela: My latest work is a paranormal story about a vampire - a four hundred year old man in denial of who he is. He believes he was cursed by the mistress who turned him. As he learns about a cure in a certain family bloodline, he waits in the shadows of night until the time is right to fulfill his destiny. Little does he know that the one holding the cure for his illness is the woman he cares about most.

I actually wrote it about four years ago so it's finished. I'm just doing a rewrite to make it less horror fiction and more enticing to the romance genre. It's kind of sad to do because I love this story - but I'll admit it needs a bit "revamped" for love and not gore.

Debra: Sounds like a major rewrite and sometimes that is harder than simply writing a new story. Especially when dealing with two different genres. But some stories just won't let us go.

Ray Bradbury said, "We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." How do you keep your creative well filled?

Angela: First of all, that's a great line by Mr. Bradbury. I think when authors first start "tipping", sometimes they make a mess. I know I have a few. The trick is to clean it up, start again, and work until you get something beautiful. A perfect cup of java would be wonderful!

Debra: Yes, we need to give ourselves to permission to be messy, to play with the writing.

Angela: Music has been a huge influence on my life and my work. My older brother is the one who really got me into music as a child. I used to listen to his 8-track tapes, showing my age there, of John Denver after school. When he was out with his friends, I'd sneak into his room and play his Van Halen records, get my tennis racket out and play air guitar like I was some rock star. Hehe, I'm not sure if he ever knew that.

Debra: Well, if he reads this, he will know! Ha ha ha.

Angela: Another creative addition is the real world itself. There are so many stories going on that it's absolutely unbelievable! I research news sites every day and read about incredible people. There is unlimited product for an author to write about. Mix it in with little unworldly things, and wa-la -you've got your next paranormal novel. My saying is, "the more you look around at the real world, the fancier your mind will be."

Debra: I like that saying.
Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Angela: They come to life before I start writing! I visualize, kind of like a movie, the way they act, sound, and the things they say from beginning to almost the ending. In 1080 Kiss was a lot of fun to create their disagreements and listen to their arguments like I was actually there. Sometimes I wanted to smack them both. I really get into the story. :)

Debra: Yes, makes you wonder who is in charge then, doesn't it? ;-)

Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so how?

Angela: I respect authors that have that kind of perseverance to write a new language. I've always thought it's be interesting to do, but I never have.

Debra: For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Angela: Absolutely! I have always had the wildest dreams. Indeed there are many scenes throughout my books that have been dreamt. For instance, in 1080 Kiss there's a part where the main character, Morgan, is dumped by a jerk at a look-out point on top of the snowy mountain where the story mainly takes place. She's about to freeze to death and becomes worried that there are wolves tracking her. She breaks down and calls Vince, her love interest, to come pick her up, but he swears there are no wolves on the mountain. When they're both back in the truck ready to leave, they find the wolves, standing where she's sat waiting on him, eyes shining in the headlights. That scene is one of my favorites.

Debra: Oh, I like that scene! We should always listen to intuition.

As a child did any particular book or author pull you into their imaginary world?

Angela: I read the Darksword Trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman when I was a teenager. I fell so much in love with the story, that I spent my entire time at the school library reading. It inspired me more than any other book that I've read before or since.

Debra: If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Angela: A romantic comedy sci-fi horror called My Zombie Boyfriend from Outer Space. Actually, the thought has been rolling around in my head for a while. I might just get started on it after I'm done with my vampire novel!

Debra: Yes, I think you should!
Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Angela: Don't ever give up on writing if that's what you love to do. It is endless, the possibilities when writing fiction. Whatever your mind can think up, write it down. And never, ever give up on your dreams.

Debra: Good advice. Angela, thank you for joining us here on Make-Believe Mondays to share a bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

Angela: Thanks so much for having me here. I really enjoyed answering your questions.

Debra: It was my pleasure.

Angela: Add me as a friend on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/angelsteed
I’ll be having a contest soon, so subscribe to my blog as well.

1080 Kiss will be available November 1^st. Check back mid-October at http://www.blacklyonpublishing.com to pre-order.