Monthly Archives: November 2016

Jana Blogs

Sunday Small Talk

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Just another quick post because outside of nano I’m not doing a darned thing! I am however, almost done with nano. I wouldn’t have guessed that a week ago. I wasn’t doing so good.

And I wanted to put a few things in writing so to speak about the ideas that came to me driving back from Pittsburgh after the holiday (which was thankfully politics free which I didn’t bet on as many of my family are conservatives). I knew that the ending had to have the villains getting Cam back because that’s sort of the plot of the whole book. I didn’t, however, want to do what SO MANY books do: have the protagonist do something stupid and the bad guys put him in danger. I loathe that so much.

So it occurred to me there had to be a traitor that helps the villains out. That way the protagonist doesn’t look like a dumb ass and I get the dangerous ending I need.

Now of course I have to go retcon the whole beginning to create that character. And I decided it needs to be one of the guards for the prince. That way I can move Nerium into his position since her role could be eliminated at this point since I changed the outline radically from what I envisioned in October. For that matter, I better find out something better to do with Prince Malas’s sister, Ceras because her part is so small and insignificant that I could eliminate her without losing a thing which is never good.

Here’s hoping to be finished in the next few days as that’s all I have!

Jana Blogs

Rainbow Snippets

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I’ve been out visiting the relatives since I came home for the holiday (heading back to OH tomorrow) so I’m late with this and probably can’t read til Monday.)

In December I’ll be in two anthologies and since Love Wins from DSP drops first I thought I’d do the next couple of snippets from that one first. This is from my Kept Tears universe (You can find the novel here.).

This snippet is on the Exterminator, a dark coaster in Kennywood park where they’ve taken Aaron to help boost his spirits.

He shrieked as Aaron whooped. The royal prince of fairies sure can scream like a little girl, Aaron thought, almost feeling bad for Rhys.

The ride ended all too quickly, and Rhys staggered out onto the platform before extending a hand to help Aaron out of the car. “That was terrifying.”

“The word you’re looking for is fun,” Aaron countered.

“Crazy person. I’m in love with a crazy person,” Rhys panted.

If you’d like to play along, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook community where we post up 6 sentences of one of our LGBT stories every Saturday. It’s been fun and you can find it here. Be sure to check out all the offers! It’s been a great supportive group!

And if you’re interested in the anthology (the money goes to LGBT charities to help the Orlando Pulse victims) you can find the pre-order link here.

Jana Blogs

Rainbow Snippets

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Running like mad as I’m presenting at a seminar today. I’ll be reading tonight. In December I’ll be in two anthologies and since Love Wins from DSP drops first I thought I’d do the next couple of snippets from that one first. This is from my Kept Tears universe (You can find the novel here.). Actually the snippet summarizes the plot. Aaron is having a rough time and Rhys and Corrine are there to support him. And for any Pittsburghers in the group, this is set there and highlights one of my favorite things in the area, the historic Kennywood Park.

Snippet: “Next week, it’ll be the anniversary of the day he lost his arm. Aaron withdraws. His mom usually is here to help, but her sister broke her leg and needs help. She wants us to keep him safe.” Corrine’s voice shook. She paused to take a deep breath. “Rhys, Aaron is one of my best friends, but it’s you he loves. Tell me you’re going to be around this week.”

If you’d like to play along, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook community where we post up 6 sentences of one of our LGBT stories every Saturday. It’s been fun and you can find it here. Be sure to check out all the offers! It’s been a great supportive group!

And if you’re interested in the anthology (the money goes to LGBT charities to help the Orlando Pulse victims) you can find the pre-order link here.

Jana Blogs

Guest Blogger – EAB

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Let’s welcome EAB and check out this new offering!

Title: Black Snow

Author: EAB

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Dreamspinner

Publication Date: 11/7/16

Word Count: 162,045

photo BlackSnow_postcard_front_DSP_zps5hik8cf7.jpg

Hello,

I’d like to thank Dreamspinner Press and Jana for hosting me today. Throughout my career I’ve had quite a few people message me about my writing process, so I decided to share my secrets here! I figure I’ve got about 500 words to kill, so why not. Step 1. Brainstorm- Just letting the ideas glob and gel together in my brain. A good way to do this is to read a ton. It oils the gears in your head and gets the story juices flowing.

Step 2. Organize- Getting all the research stuff I need. Looking up words, cultures, histories. Creating character names, charts, profiles. Figuring out whether it’s going to be a novella, novel or short story!

Step 3. Outline- Creating a basic outline for the story. Later I expand this outline to include specific dates and major scenes. I also figure out what the climax of my story is.

Step 4. Write it!!!- And I try not to just stare at the computer. I don’t worry too much about editing. I just write the story as it comes to me, and pray I don’t fall asleep in front of the laptop! If I have writers block I take a break and read a book, but that rarely happens once the engines are revved.

Step 5. Writing induced stress- It’s inevitable. It’s going to happen. Just accept it and deal with it! I deal with it by taking a hot bath and reading some good old fashioned smut.

Step 6. Edit- Editing is hard work, but it’s necessary! This is the fun part where you go back and get to ask yourself a million times, “What the f%*k did I just write?”

Step 7. Submit- This is the part where you get to freak out about whether or not your manuscript will be accepted!

Step 8. Self- loathing- Congratulations, you wrote a book. Too bad you’re rereading it for the seventh time and realize it’s terrible.

Step 9. Acceptance- Holy crap they actually want my book?!

Step 10. Contracts- Holy crap they really DO want my book!

Congratulations. You’ve now completed my writing steps. Relax, rinse, and repeat! Thanks for reading my silly blog! I hope that you’ll follow me along my tour for excerpts of Black Snow, giveaways and the special alternate ending at the end of the blog tour! Thanks again!

Blurb: Prince Brier Snow has lived in the shadow of King Snow’s exalted memory. However, his fate changes when he nears his majority and Lirend’s steward queen attempts to dethrone him by exploiting an obscure requirement in the late king’s will: a yearlong sabbatical.

Brier travels to the desolate land of Aire to train under the Ceve guild, scorned refugees of war, including their guarded leader, Roland. Brier’s skillful master unlocks hidden potential, and what begins as a dutiful bond turns into ill-fated affection. When Brier returns to the capital, he’s carrying proof of his indiscretions with Roland—and his condition grows more apparent with each passing day. An affair with the huntsman is a scandal Brier’s enemies can use against him, but the birth of an heir is a burden even Brier is not sure he can bear.

Roland Archer, a man with a murky past, is skeptical of the contract to train the prince but willing to do anything for the guild’s freedom. Despite his best intentions, he is smitten by Lirend’s future king. Roland has resigned himself to solitude, but fate has other plans—for him, for Brier, and for Lirend’s oppressed subjects. Can Roland help Brier face a power-hungry queen and a country torn asunder? Either they will bring equality to a land that desperately needs it, or they’ll be thwarted by cunning enemies and an illusory curse.

Buy link: Dreamspinner // Amazon // Barnes & Noble’s

EAB’s BIO: EAB is an airline steward/stewardess—depending on the day—who loves writing erotic fiction. This translates to serving Wild Turkey bourbon at 38,000 feet and writing smut at 3:00 a.m. EAB spends free-time role-playing and reading. While EAB’s true passion is writing, EAB also enjoys reaching high scores in nerdism, spending time with family (cats included), and watching anime. An East Coaster at heart, EAB loves New York’s Broadway and greasy, heartburn-inducing pizza. Feel free to drop a line or recommend some good reads! Always looking for a new book to devour!

Contact information: email Facebook Goodreads